Research into ME/CFS often discusses diagnostic criteria. But what exactly are they? And why does it matter which criteria researchers use?
In the third blog of the blog series by the Communication and Implementation Working Group of the ZonMw ME/CFS Research Programme, Inge van Putten and Sebastiaan Stam explain why diagnostic criteria are so important. Diagnostic criteria are sets of guidelines that clinicians and researchers use to determine whether someone has a particular disease.
For ME/CFS, this is especially important. At present, there is no reliable biomarker—a measurable biological characteristic that can be used to diagnose the disease. As a result, the diagnosis is currently based on a combination of symptoms and clinical features, such as post-exertional malaise (PEM), persistent fatigue, cognitive difficulties, and sleep disturbances.
This can make research challenging. There are several different sets of diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS, and they do not all define the condition in the same way. Some criteria are broader, while others place greater emphasis on specific symptoms such as PEM. The criteria researchers choose to use influence who is eligible to participate in a study, and therefore also affect how easily findings from different studies can be compared.
The blog explains why diagnostic criteria continue to evolve, why there is sometimes a grey area in diagnosis, and why the search for reliable biomarkers remains so important.
This blog series is intended for people with ME/CFS, their families and friends, and anyone interested in gaining a better understanding of scientific research into ME/CFS.
Read the blog on diagnostic criteria here on our website.