Table 2 DSQ-2 symptoms at visit 1 and visit 2
|  | Visit 1 (n = 61) | Visit 2 (n = 39) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Composite scorea - median (IQR) | Binary scoreb - frequency (%) | Composite scorea - median (IQR) | Binary scoreb - frequency (%) | |
Fatigue/Extreme tiredness | 62.5 (50.0, 87.5) | 51/60 (85.0) | 62.5 (50.0, 87.5) | 37 (94.9) |
Post-exertional malaise | ||||
 Dead, heavy feeling after starting exercise | 37.5 (6.3, 62.5) | 26/60 (43.3) | 25.0 (0.0, 59.4) | 12 (30.8) |
 Next-day soreness or fatigue after everyday activities | 37.5 (25.0, 62.5) | 24 (39.3) | 37.5 (25.0, 68.8) | 17 (43.6) |
 Mentally tired after the slightest effort | 50.0 (25.0, 75.0) | 29/60 (48.3) | 25.0 (6.3, 50.0) | 12 (30.8) |
 Physically tired after minimum exercise | 50.0 (25.0, 75.0) | 31 (50.8) | 37.5 (25.0, 71.9) | 15 (38.5) |
 Physically drained or sick after mild activity | 37.5 (25.0, 75.0) | 25 (41.0) | 37.5 (0.0, 59.4) | 12 (30.8) |
 Muscle fatigue after mild physical activity | 37.5 (25.0, 75.0) | 28/59 (47.5) | 25.0 (0.0, 62.5) | 15/38 (39.5) |
 Worsening of symptoms after mild physical activity | 25.0 (0.0, 75.0) | 21/58 (36.2) | 25.0 (0.0, 62.5) | 13/38 (34.2) |
 Worsening of symptoms after mild mental activity | 25.0 (0.0, 75.0) | 15/58 (25.9) | 25.0 (0.0, 50.0) | 12/38 (31.6) |
 Difficulty reading (dyslexia) after mild physical or mental activity | 0.0 (0.0, 50.0) | 15/59 (25.4) | 12.5 (0.0, 46.9) | 0/38 (26.3) |
Sleep | ||||
 Unrefreshing sleep | 62.5 (40.6, 75.0) | 38/60 (63.3) | 50.0 (37.5, 75.0) | 23 (59.0) |
 Need to nap daily | 37.5 (6.3, 50.0) | 17 (27.9) | 37.5 (6.3, 50.0) | 11 (28.2) |
 Problems falling asleep | 31.3 (0.0, 59.4) | 18/60 (30.0) | 25.0 (0.0, 59.4) | 12 (30.8) |
 Problems staying asleep | 56.3 (25.0, 75.0) | 35/60 (58.3) | 50.0 (6.3, 84.4) | 20 (51.3) |
 Waking up early in the morning (e.g. 3 AM) | 37.5 (0.0, 75.0) | 25/59 (42.4) | 25.0 (15.6, 75.0) | 16 (41.0) |
 Sleeping all day and staying awake all night | 0.0 (0.0, 25.0) | 4 (6.6) | 0.0 (0.0, 9.4) | 0 (0.0) |
 Daytime drowsiness | 37.5 (25.0, 50.0) | 18/59 (30.5) | 25.0 (25.0, 50.0) | 11/38 (29.0) |
Pain | ||||
 Pain or aching in muscles | 50.0 (25.0, 75.0) | 29 (47.5) | 50.0 (12.5, 62.5) | 20 (51.3) |
 Joint pain | 50.0 (25.0, 75.0) | 31 (50.8) | 50.0 (25.0, 75.0) | 22 (56.4) |
 Eye pain | 0.0 (0.0, 25.0) | 6/60 (10.0) | 0.0 (0.0, 0.0) | 3 (7.7) |
 Chest pain | 0.0 (0.0, 31.3) | 7 (11.5) | 0.0 (0.0, 25.0) | 2 (5.1) |
 Bloating | 25.0 (0.0, 37.5) | 11/60 (18.3) | 25.0 (0.0, 46.9) | 8 (20.5) |
 Abdomen/stomach pain | 0.0 (0.0, 25.0) | 6 (9.8) | 0.0 (0.0, 25.0) | 4 (10.3) |
 Headaches | 37.5 (25.0, 50.0) | 18 (29.5) | 37.5 (25.0, 50.0) | 10 (25.6) |
 Aching of the eyes or behind the eyes | 0.0 (0.0, 0.0) | 3/59 (5.1) | 0.0 (0.0, 0.0) | 1/38 (2.6) |
 Sensitivity to pain | 0.0 (0.0, 25.0) | 7/58 (12.1) | 0.0 (0.0, 25.0) | 6/38 (15.8) |
 Myofascial pain | 0.0 (0.0, 0.0) | 7/59 (11.9) | 0.0 (0.0, 0.0) | 4/38 (10.5) |
Neurocognitive | ||||
 Muscle twitches | 0.0 (0.0, 25.0) | 8/60 (13.3) | 0.0 (0.0, 25.0) | 5/38 (13.2) |
 Muscle weakness | 25.0 (0.0, 50.0) | 16 (26.2) | 25.0 (0.0, 37.5) | 8 (20.5) |
 Sensitivity to noise | 37.5 (0.0, 75.0) | 24 (39.3) | 37.5 (0.0, 50.0) | 13 (33.3) |
 Sensitivity to bright lights | 12.5 (0.0, 50.0) | 15 (24.6) | 12.5 (0.0, 46.9) | 9 (23.1) |
 Problems remembering things | 37.5 (25.0, 75.0) | 26 (42.6) | 37.5 (12.5, 62.5) | 17 (43.6) |
 Difficulty paying attention for a long period of time | 50.0 (25.0, 62.5) | 30 (49.2) | 37.5 (25.0, 75.0) | 18 (46.2) |
 Difficulty finding the right word to say, or expressing thoughts | 37.5 (18.8, 50.0) | 17 (27.9) | 37.5 (0.0, 62.5) | 16 (41.0) |
 Difficulty understanding things | 25.0 (0.0, 37.5) | 7/60 (11.7) | 12.5 (0.0, 37.5) | 8 (20.5) |
 Only able to focus on one thing at a time | 50.0 (0.0, 62.5) | 25 (41.0) | 25.0 (0.0, 62.5) | 16 (41.0) |
 Unable to focus vision | 0.0 (0.0, 25.0) | 5 (8.2) | 0.0 (0.0, 25.0) | 5 (12.8) |
 Unable to focus attention | 18.8 (0.0, 37.5) | 9/59 (15.3) | 0.0 (0.0, 37.5) | 9 (23.1) |
 Loss of depth perception | 0.0 (0.0, 25.0) | 4 (6.6) | 0.0 (0.0, 0.0) | 3 (7.7) |
 Slowness of thought | 25.0 (0.0, 50.0) | 13/59 (22.0) | 25.0 (0.0, 46.9) | 10 (25.6) |
 Absent-mindedness or forgetfulness | 37.5 (25.0, 50.0) | 20 (32.8) | 25.0 (25.0, 62.5) | 14/38 (36.8) |
 Feeling disoriented | 0.0 (0.0, 25.0) | 7/59 (11.9) | 0.0 (0.0, 6.3) | 3/37 (8.1) |
 Slowed speech | 0.0 (0.0, 25.0) | 6/59 (10.2) | 0.0 (0.0, 37.5) | 5/38 (13.2) |
 Poor coordination | 0.0 (0.0, 25.0) | 8/59 (13.6) | 0.0 (0.0, 25.0) | 3/38 (7.9) |
Autonomic | ||||
 Bladder problems | 0.0 (0.0, 25.0) | 8/60 (13.3) | 0.0 (0.0, 0.0) | 2/38 (5.3) |
 Urinary urgency | 18.8 (0.0, 37.5) | 12/59 (20.3) | 25.0 (0.0, 37.5) | 5/38 (13.2) |
 Waking up at night to urinate | 50.0 (25.0, 62.5) | 24/59 (40.7) | 25.0 (25.0, 62.5) | 12/38 (31.6) |
 Irritable bowel problems | 0.0 (0.0, 25.0) | 8 (13.1) | 0.0 (0.0, 25.0) | 6/38 (15.8) |
 Nausea | 0.0 (0.0, 25.0) | 3 (4.9) | 0.0 (0.0, 0.0) | 1/38 (2.6) |
 Feeling unsteady on feet | 12.5 (0.0, 25.0) | 7 (11.5) | 0.0 (0.0, 25.0) | 4/38 (10.5) |
 Shortness of breath or trouble catching breath | 50.0 (25.0, 71.9) | 32/60 (53.3) | 37.5 (25.0, 50.0) | 12/38 (31.6) |
 Dizziness or fainting | 25.0 (0.0, 37.5) | 6 (9.8) | 0.0 (0.0, 25.0) | 1/38 (2.6) |
 Irregular heartbeats | 0.0 (0.0, 25.0) | 6 (9.8) | 0.0 (0.0, 25.0) | 4/38 (10.5) |
 Heart beats quickly after standing | 0.0 (0.0, 37.5) | 13/59 (22.0) | 0.0 (0.0, 25.0) | 7/38 (18.4) |
 Blurred or tunnel vision after standing | 0.0 (0.0, 25.0) | 5/59 (8.5) | 0.0 (0.0, 0.0) | 0/38 (0.0) |
 Graying or blacking out after standing | 0.0 (0.0, 12.5) | 0/59 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0, 0.0) | 0/38 (0.0) |
 Inability to tolerate an upright position | 0.0 (0.0, 0.0) | 2/58 (3.5) | 0.0 (0.0, 0.0) | 2/38 (5.3) |
Neuroendocrine | ||||
 Losing weight without trying | 0.0 (0.0, 0.0) | 4 (6.6) | 0.0 (0.0, 0.0.) | 1/38 (2.6) |
 Gaining weight without trying | 25.0 (0.0, 43.8) | 15 (24.6) | 0.0 (0.0, 50.0) | 9/38 (23.7) |
 Lack of appetite | 0.0 (0.0, 25.0) | 7/60 (11.7) | 0.0 (0.0, 0.0) | 2/38 (5.3) |
 Sweating hands | 0.0 (0.0, 0.0) | 4 (6.6) | (0.0, 0.0) | 1/38 (2.6) |
 Night sweats | 0.0 (0.0, 50.0) | 17/60 (28.3) | 0.0 (0.0, 37.5) | 9/38 (23.7) |
 Cold limbs | 18.8 (0.0, 37.5) | 8/60 (13.3) | 0.0 (0.0, 37.5) | 6/38 (15.8) |
 Feeling chills or shivers | 0.0 (0.0, 25.0) | 2 (3.3) | 0.0 (0.0, 0.0) | 3/38 (7.9) |
 Feeling hot or cold for no reason | 0.0 (0.0, 25.0) | 5/59 (8.5) | 0.0 (0.0, 25.0) | 3/38 (7.9) |
 Felling like you have a high temperature | 0.0 (0.0, 31.3) | 9/60 (15.0) | 0.0 (0.0, 25.0) | 2/38 (5.3) |
 Feeling like you have a low temperature | 0.0 (0.0, 0.0) | 0/60 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0, 0.0) | 1/38 (2.6) |
 Alcohol intolerance | 0.0 (0.0, 0.0) | 5/60 (8.3) | 0.0 (0.0, 0.0) | 1/38 (2.6) |
 Intolerance to extremes of temperature | 0.0 (0.0, 25.0) | 11/59 (18.6) | (0.0, 25.0) | 6/38 (15.8) |
 Fluctuations in temperature throughout the day | 0.0 (0.0, 0.0) | 5/59 (8.5) | 0.0 (0.0, 6.3) | 3/38 (7.9) |
Immune | ||||
 Sore throat | 6.3 (0.0, 25.0) | 5/59 (8.5) | 0.0 (0.0, 25.0) | 1/38 (2.6) |
 Tender/sore lymph nodes | 0.0 (0.0, 0.0) | 2/59 (3.4) | 0.0 (0.0, 0.0) | 0/38 (0.0) |
 Fever | 0.0 (0.0, 12.5) | 4/59 (6.8) | 0.0 (0.0, 0.0) | 0/38 (0.0) |
 Flu-like symptoms | 25.0 (0.0, 25.0) | 4/58 (6.9) | 25.0 (0.0, 25.0) | 3/38 (7.9) |
 Sensitivity to smells, food, medications, or chemicals | 0.0 (0.0, 0.0) | 1/58 (1.7) | 0.0 (0.0, 25.0) | 3/38 (7.9) |
 Viral infections with prolonged recovery periods | 0.0 (0.0, 37.5) | 9/58 (15.5) | 0.0 (0.0, 0.0) | 0/37 (0.0) |
 Sinus infections | 25.0 (0.0, 37.5) | 8/59 (13.6) | 0.0 (0.0, 25.0) | 3/38 (7.9) |
Others | ||||
 Sensitivity to mold | 0.0 (0.0, 12.5) | 5/58 (8.6) | 0.0 (0.0, 0.0) | 5/38 (13.2) |
 Sensitivity to vibration | 0.0 (0.0, 0.0) | 3/59 (5.1) | 0.0 (0.0, 0.0) | 4/38 (10.5) |