Summary
| Direction in ME/CFS | ↓ Reduced — lower than in the comparison group |
|---|---|
| Category | Functional |
| Also described as | Quality of life |
| Compared against | HC (healthy controls) |
| Associated symptoms | Disability, activity limitation |
| Test type | Clinical or physiological test |
| Source | Maksoud et al. 2023 — doi:10.1186/s12916-023-02893-9 |
| Condition atlas | ME/CFS Biomarker Atlas |
Trials, interventions and tests
In clinical-trial registrations this marker maps to the outcome term Assessment of quality of life (25 registered trials use a matching outcome measure).
Clinical trials using SF-36 physical function score as an outcome
- NCT07661862: PERCEIVE-Outreach: A Scalable, Risk-Based Model for Managing Persistent Cardiovascular Impact in Long COVID (Recruiting)
Outcome measure: Change in Assessment of Quality of Life (AQoL) 8D at 12 & 24 months - NCT07359482: sElective Serotonin reuPtake inhibitoRs In posT-covid After COVID-19 (Recruiting)
Outcome measure: Health-related Quality of Life - NCT07627815: Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of PNMR as Treatment for Long COVID (Recruiting)
Outcome measure: Change in QoL as measured by the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF-36) at 3 and 6 weeks on treatment. - NCT07621588: Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercises With KOTS Currents in Patients With Long COVID (Not Yet Recruiting)
Outcome measure: Quality of Life with SF-36 questionnaire - NCT06305793: RECOVER-AUTONOMIC: Platform Protocol, Appendix A (IVIG) (Active Not Recruiting)
Outcome measure: Change in Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS-29) + 2 Questionnaire - NCT06560554: Evaluating the Effects of a Fermented Diet on Microbiome Diversity in Individuals With Long COVID (Enrolling By Invitation)
Outcome measure: Assessment of quality of life - NCT06847191: NE3107 in Adults With Neurological Symptoms of Long COVID (Active Not Recruiting)
Outcome measure: Change from Baseline in SF-12 Health Survey (Physical and Mental Component Scores) - NCT07559994: Diagnostic and Clinical Management of Non-Obstructive Myocardial Ischemia in Patients With Long Covid-19 Syndrome and New Onset Chest Pain (Active Not Recruiting)
Outcome measure: The changes in angina symptom and quality of life assessed by Seattle Questionnaire of Angina score in the treatment guided group comparing to the standard of care group
17 more trials reference this marker.
Interventions studied alongside this marker
Hypothesis-generating links from trial outcome usage and literature co-occurrence. Not treatment recommendations.
- Exercise therapy — 2 trials, 6 PubMed co-citations
e.g. Effects of Strengthening-Based Home Exercise Program on Pain and Function in Knee Osteoarthritis: Phase I… - Fluvoxamine — 1 trial, 6 PubMed co-citations
e.g. The Effect of Fluvoxamine and Metformin for Fatigue in Patients With Long COVID : An Adaptive Randomized… - Dietary intervention — 1 trial, 6 PubMed co-citations
e.g. The impact of personalized nutritional intake on serum inflammation, immune markers, and recovery time in… - Diaphragmatic breathing exercise — 1 trial, 6 PubMed co-citations
e.g. Efficacy and Safety of Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercises for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: A Systematic… - Paxlovid — 1 trial, 6 PubMed co-citations
e.g. Symptom Alleviation/Resolution and Returns to Usual Health/Activities in Immunocompromised Adults with… - Sirolimus — 1 trial, 6 PubMed co-citations
e.g. Efficacy and Safety of Nanoencapsulated Sirolimus plus Pegadricase: Results from the Randomized… - Baricitinib — 1 trial, 6 PubMed co-citations
e.g. Systemic therapies for atopic dermatitis. - Vagus nerve stimulation — 1 trial, 6 PubMed co-citations
e.g. From Therapeutic Heterogeneity to Precision Neuromodulation: Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation for Chronic…
Related Functional markers in ME/CFS
Full list: ME/CFS Biomarker Atlas.
Frequently asked questions
Is SF-36 physical function score high or low in ME/CFS?
Reduced. Studies summarised in the OSMF atlas report lower SF-36 physical function score in ME/CFS than in healthy controls. Source: Maksoud et al. 2023.
What symptoms is SF-36 physical function score associated with in ME/CFS?
The cited literature associates this marker with Disability, activity limitation. These are population-level associations and do not mean the marker causes the symptoms.
Which test measures SF-36 physical function score?
It is measured as a clinical or physiological test. Many of the cited studies used research-grade assays, so clinical availability may vary.
Is one abnormal SF-36 physical function score result diagnostic of ME/CFS?
No. No single biomarker is diagnostic of ME/CFS. SF-36 physical function score findings come from group comparisons, overlap considerably between patients and controls, and vary with study design, timing and comparison group. A result should be interpreted by a clinician alongside symptoms, history and other tests.
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Last reviewed: 2026-06-29 · Page generated from me-cfs.json · Browse: ME/CFS atlas · Biomarker Index · All marker pages
Disclaimer: This page is an educational synthesis of published, peer-reviewed research and is not medical advice. Biomarker findings vary across studies with case definitions, comparison groups, timing and assay methods. Direction of change reflects the predominant finding in the cited source and does not establish a diagnostic threshold. Discuss any test result with a qualified clinician.