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Who's at risk?
Researchers continue to explore possible causes, risk factors and triggering factors for CFS. Many questions remain, but there are some characteristics that may help health care practitioners identify who is most at risk for CFS:
- CFS occurs up to four times more frequently in women than in men, although people of either gender can develop the disease.
- The illness occurs most often in people between the ages of 40 and 59, but people of all ages can get CFS.
- CFS is less common in children than in adults. Studies suggest that CFS is more prevalent in adolescents than in children.
- CFS occurs in all ethnic and racial groups, and in countries around the world. Research indicates that CFS is at least as common among African Americans and Hispanics as it is among Caucasians.
- People of all income levels can develop CFS, although there's evidence that it's more common in lower-income than affluent individuals.
- CFS is sometimes seen in members of the same family, but there's no evidence that it's contagious. Instead, there may be a familial or genetic propensity. Further research is needed to explore this.
Page last modified on March 10, 2006
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
Tel: 404-639-3311 • CDC Contact Center: 800-CDC-INFO • 888-232-6348 (TTY)