Chronic fatigue syndrome in middle-aged women: the role of disorders of glucose metabolism

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) among middle-aged women and to assess the role of glucose metabolism disturbances in the development of this pathology. Materials and Methods: The study included 231 women from 40 to 60 years old (mean age 52.3 ± 5 years), observed at urban polyclinic in Moscow, who was referred to or was observed by an endocrinologist (n = 142, group 1), therapist (n = 56, group 2) or had a prophylactic medical examinations (n = 33, group 3). We recorded demographic and anthropometric data, accessed levels of glucose, glycated hemoglobin, insulin and calculated BMI and HOMA indexes. Results: The prevalence of CFS in the whole group of patients studied was 27%. The highest frequency of CFS is registered in the group of patients observed by the endocrinologist – 35%, and at dispensary examination – 21%, which was significantly different from the prevalence of CFS in patients seeking an appointment with a therapist – 13% (p = 0.002 and p = 0.03 for Fisher's exact test, respectively). Higher BMI, blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, and HOMA insulin resistance index as naturally expected were observed in group 1, but after further division for the presence or absence of CFS, significant differences for patients with CFS were only higher fasting glucose levels in group 2. Conclusions: We determined the prevalence of CFS in the examined groups of patients and showed only a weak correlation of CFS and disturbances of glucose metabolism.