Pooling was not appropriate for CFS.In studies with control groups of patients without the symptom of tiredness , prevalence of somatic disease was identical to those complaining of tiredness .
Depression , however , was more frequent among those with tiredness .
Conclusions Serious somatic disease is rare in patients complaining of tiredness .
Since prevalence is similar in patients without tiredness , the association may not be causal .
Background Tiredness is one of the most frequent complaints in primary care .
Although often self-limiting and frequently associated with psychosocial stress , patients but also their physicians are often uncertain regarding a serious cause and appropriate diagnostic work-up .
We conducted a systematic review and meta- analysis of studies reporting on differential diagnosis of fatigue in primary care .
Ascertaining the size of the symptom iceberg in a UK-wide community-based survey.
BACKGROUND The symptom iceberg describes the phenomenon that most symptoms are managed in the community without people seeking professional health care . The size of the iceberg for many symptoms is unknown , as is their association with personal characteristics , including history of a chronic disease . AIM To ascertain the size of the symptom iceberg in the UK . DESIGN OF STUDY A UK-wide community-based postal survey . SETTING Urban and rural communities across the UK . METHOD A postal survey was sent to an age- and sex-stratified r and om sample of 2474 adults , aged 18 - 60 years , drawn from 20 practice s around the UK . Questions were aim ed at investigating adults ' experiences of 25 different symptoms in the previous 2 weeks . RESULTS The number of symptoms experienced by one individual in the previous 2 weeks ranged from 0 to 22 ( mean 3.66 ) . Of the symptoms examined , the three most common were : feeling tired/run down ; headaches ; and joint pain . Univariate analysis found symptom prevalence to be significantly associated with a wide range of participant characteristics . However , after adjustment , many of these associations no longer remained significant for a number of the symptoms . Presence of a chronic condition , age , and employment status were the three factors most commonly associated with the 2-week prevalence of symptoms . Reported symptom characteristics ( severity , duration , interference , and time off work ) varied little by sex or age . CONCLUSION Symptoms in the UK community are common . Symptom prevalence was associated with a number of participant characteristics , although the extent of this association was less than has been reported in previous research . This study provides an important current baseline prevalence of 25 symptoms in the community for those who do , and do not , have a chronic condition
Pooling was not appropriate for CFS.In studies with control groups of patients without the symptom of tiredness , prevalence of somatic disease was identical to those complaining of tiredness .
Depression , however , was more frequent among those with tiredness .
Conclusions Serious somatic disease is rare in patients complaining of tiredness .
Since prevalence is similar in patients without tiredness , the association may not be causal .
Background Tiredness is one of the most frequent complaints in primary care .
Although often self-limiting and frequently associated with psychosocial stress , patients but also their physicians are often uncertain regarding a serious cause and appropriate diagnostic work-up .
We conducted a systematic review and meta- analysis of studies reporting on differential diagnosis of fatigue in primary care .