Before the COVID-19 pandemic, 1.5 million people in the U.S. were estimated to have myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, or ME/CFS, with an annual economic impact of $36 billion to $51 billion. Due to COVID-19, the total ME/CFS prevalence could rise to between 5 million and 9 million people. This would cause the annual U.S. economic impact to rise to $149 billion to $362 billion in medical expenses and lost income.
Certainly, we need to study ME/CFS to find ways of reducing this medical and economic harm. Yet, few funds have been devoted to ME/CFS. In contrast, more than $1 billion dollars has been allocated to the study of COVID-19 in the U.S. Reluctance to fund ME/CFS research might be due to there being multiple potential causes of the syndrome and that it is more scientifically justified to focus research on an illness such as COVID-19 that has clear viral cause.
However, what might be considered a limiting factor in studying ME/CFS could actually provide scientists a window into understanding long COVID-19. There is growing evidence of multiple similarities between patients with long COVID-19 and patients with ME/CFS (who have tested negative for COVID-19).
