Advancing Prevention for Under-Recognised Diseases: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia in Focus

Objectives*
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and fibromyalgia (FM) are complex, poorly understood conditions characterized by chronic fatigue, widespread pain, and other debilitating symp-toms. Despite their significant burden on public health, these conditions remain under-researched, and preven-tion strategies are largely unexplored. This scoping review aims to identify and synthesize current knowledge on the challenges and opportunities for preventing ME/CFS and FM, highlighting gaps in research and areas for future study.
Materials and Methods
This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, to identify peer-reviewed articles, grey literature, and policy documents published in English. The inclusion criteria focused on studies addressing risk factors, potential preventive interventions, and barriers to prevention. Key data were extracted, charted, and thematically analysed to map existing evidence and gaps.
Results
Preliminary findings indicate a scarcity of studies directly addressing ME/CFS and FM prevention strategies. Common challenges include the heterogeneity of diagnostic criteria, limited understanding of etiological mechanisms, and sparse research on prevention strategies. However, several opportunities emerged, and
primary prevention addresses risk factors such as infections, environmental stressors, and genetic predisposition. Secondary prevention emphasizes early detection, including leveraging social media data and digital health technologies to identify at-risk populations or undiagnosed patients. Tertiary prevention highlights multidisciplinary approaches to managing chronic symptoms and reducing disease progression. Community based interventions and early identification strategies through biomarkers and predictive models show
promise but require further validation.
Conclusions
The prevention of ME/CFS and FM remains a critical unmet need. Addressing these challenges will require interdisciplinary collaboration, robust funding, and innovative research approaches. Efforts to develop prevention strategies must prioritize understanding disease mechanisms, identifying at-risk populations, and raising awareness among healthcare professionals.
Project No. LZP-2024/1-0343
Project No.RSU-PAG-2024/1-0009