Piersiala, Krzysztof, Akst, Lee M, Hillel, Alexander T et al. · JAMA otolaryngology-- head & neck surgery · 2020 · DOI
This study looked at whether fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and ME/CFS patients have similar voice and throat problems. Researchers reviewed medical records of over 4,000 patients at a voice center and found that patients with these three conditions were more likely to have functional voice disorders (problems with how the voice works rather than visible damage) compared to other patients.
This study provides evidence that ME/CFS shares laryngeal and voice manifestations with other chronic pain syndromes, suggesting potential common mechanisms underlying these conditions. Understanding that voice and airway symptoms are linked to ME/CFS may help clinicians recognize and better manage this often-overlooked aspect of the disease.
This study does not establish causation or the underlying mechanisms causing voice and laryngeal dysfunction in these conditions. The retrospective design and focus on patients seeking voice center care may not represent all ME/CFS patients, as it excludes those without laryngeal complaints. The study cannot determine whether voice dysfunction is primary to the disease or secondary to other CFS symptoms like fatigue or post-exertional malaise.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
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