Swiss ME/CFS Study

Project description

The first official scientific study on the situation of ME/CFS patients in Switzerland is a collaborative project between the Swiss Tropical Institute (Swiss TPH) at the University of Basel and the Seegarten Clinic (SGK) in Kilchberg ZH, with the participation of the ME/CFS Switzerland association.

The study consists of 3 parts:

- Anonymous survey among ME/CFS sufferers about their everyday lives.

- Anonymous survey among Swiss doctors about their level of knowledge about ME/CFS and the extent of their corresponding patient care.

- Anonymized summary of the clinical data of the ME/CFS patients who presented themselves at the ME/CFS consultation hours at the Seegarten Clinic.

The study will allow the following:

- First official presentation of the epidemiological key data on ME/CFS in Switzerland (e.g.: time of diagnosis; severity of the disease (i.e. symptom burden), quality of life and still possible everyday activities; financing situation).

- First official presentation of the situation from the perspective of Swiss doctors (e.g.: how well known is the diagnosis of ME/CFS among them; how many ME/CFS patients were/are cared for on average).

- First official presentation of the clinical key data for Switzerland (especially: severity of the disease; most common triggers and subtypes of ME/CFS; most common laboratory and other findings; information on the general effectiveness of various treatment approaches).

- The above findings are used as a starting point for further studies, reference sources for the most important players in the healthcare, social/insurance and political sectors and facilitate further international collaborations.

(Description adapted from project website: see link above)