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- Last Updated: 09 December 2015 09 December 2015
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Demographics
Our respondents came from 42 states and 9 foreign countries, with perhaps only Dr. Les Simpson having conducted a more geographically diverse study of ME/CFS patients. The mean age of the long-term group was 48.4 (SD = 10.4, range 19-80 years). That for the short-term group was 45.5 (SD = 12.4) and the significant-other group was significantly older at mean age 51.8 (SD = 12.4, P = .003). 96.8% of the long-term participants were Caucasian, and 3.2% were either Hispanic, Asian or Native American. Other demographic data is summarized in Table 1 below.
Table 1. Demographic data for the 465 participants
Long-duration Short-duration Significant-other
ME/CFS ME/CFS group_______
N 258 28 179
Age (years) 48.4 45.5 51.8*
% women 85.1 89.3 32.2*
Education (years) 15.5 16.1 15.1
% married 51.6 37.0* 76.5*
% working (full or 28.2* 63.6 61.8*
part-time)
% on disability due 40
to ME/CFS
Median Income U.S. $20,000-30,000 U.S. $20,000-30,000
Illness duration 16 yrs 3 yrs
(median)
_______________________________________________________
* p < .01