Almost two-thirds more people are living with ME/CFS in England than previously thought, a study says.

The new estimate suggests that approximately 404,000 people are affected by ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome), a 62 per cent rise from the previously accepted figure of 250,000.

Researchers also found that people of Chinese, Asian/Asian British, and black/black British ethnicities are substantially less likely to be diagnosed with ME/CFS than white British people.

Experts say the findings highlight that receiving a ME/CFS diagnosis is a “lottery” depending on ethnicity and location.

Improved training of medical professionals and research into identifying accurate diagnostic tests for the long-term debilitating illness should be prioritised as a result, they add.