Health News Update: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Affects 4 Million in the U.S.

More than 80 percent of cases are undiagnosed or incorrectly diagnosed

Aurora, Colo. (Nov. 7, 2007) - Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), a condition characterized by debilitating symptoms including fatigue, memory problems, and pain, may be more widespread than once thought. Experts estimate that more than four million people in the United States alone may suffer from CFS - totaling more than those that suffer from multiple sclerosis, lung cancer or AIDS. Unfortunately, 80 percent of all CFS patients have not yet been diagnosed by a medical provider.

In an effort to increase awareness in the medical community on this issue, the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine is teaming up with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide a continuing education course for clinicians on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2007.

"The primary goal of the seminar is to increase knowledge about CFS and to facilitate improved detection, diagnosis, and care management for people who are affected by the illness," says Dr. Lisa Corbin, medical director of the Center for Integrative Medicine at University of Colorado Hospital. "We saw this as an important opportunity to bring light to this issue within the medical community."

CFS occurs most frequently in women ages 40-60, but affects all races, sexes, and age groups, and can be as disabling as multiple sclerosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The condition can also take a tremendous personal and social toll on the patient and their family.

"Our economic impact study shows that a family in which someone has CFS forgoes $20,000 a year in annual earnings and wages, and that a quarter of them are either on disability or out of work following the illness," says Dr. William Reeves, chief of the Chronic Fatigue Research Program at CDC. "This indicates to us that it is a serious public health problem and most people with CFS aren't aware they have it."

Corbin agrees, "That is why it is so important for patients to speak to their doctors. Only a qualified health care professional can diagnose CFS."

The continuing education course offered by the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine is an important component in ensuring that local clinicians are prepared to handle these discussions with their patients and properly diagnosis this illness.

For more information on the course, "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Fundamentals of Diagnosis and Management" is available at http://www.uchsc.edu/cme. For more information on chronic fatigue syndrome, visit www.cdc.gov/cfs.

The School of Medicine faculty work to advance science and improve care as the physicians, educators and scientists at University of Colorado Hospital, The Children's Hospital, Denver Health, National Jewish Medical and Research Center and the Veterans Administration Medical Center. The School is part of the University of Colorado Denver, one of three universities in the University of Colorado system. For more information, visit the web site at www.uchsc.edu or the University of Colorado Denver Newsroom at http://www.uchsc.edu/news.