Table 1 Registry referral inclusion and exclusion criteria

To be eligible for referral to the registry, an individual must have met the following criteria:

Providers were instructed to rule out other potential causes of fatigue by conducting laboratory tests and medical history or medical histories alone before referring their patients. The registry had the following exclusion criteria:

• Unexplained severe fatigue persisting for one month or longer.

• One of the following for at least one month:

  o unrefreshing sleep,

• Pregnancy within past 12 months

  o problems with memory or concentration, or

• Stroke with no full recovery

  o unexplained joint or muscle pain.

• Parkinson’s disease

• A body mass index of less than 40.0

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or congestive heart failure

• Age 12 to 59 (However, in November 2009, CDC expanded the eligible age range to 69 years of age. This upper age range limit was clarified to mean that in order to be eligible, the subject must be no more than 69 years of age as of the date of the most recent CDC IRB approval, September 2009).

• Insulin-dependent diabetes

• Uncontrolled diabetes type II (HgbA1c < 9%)

• Anemia

• Uncontrolled hypo- or hyper-thyroidism

• Uncontrolled hypertension (BP > 140/90)

• Sickle cell anemia

• Cancer within 5 years (except basal skin) or current chemotherapy

• Untreated depression

• Substance abuse problems within the past 2 years

• Anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa within the past 5 years

• Schizophrenia, bipolar I or II disorder, or dementia

• Hepatitis B or C