SX18
Fatigue and Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Thursday, May 29, 2014
Trinity Exhibit Hall
Jarmila Szilasiova, MD, PhD, Professor assistant , Neurology, Faculty of Medicine Safarik University, Kosice, Slovakia
Marianna Vitkova, MD , Neurology, Faculty of Medicine Safarik University, Kosice, Slovakia
Jaroslav Rosenberger, MD, PhD , The Kosice Institute of Society and Health, Safarik University, Kosice, Slovakia
Pavol Mikula, MGR , The Kosice Institute of Society and Health, Safarik University, Kosice, Slovakia
Zuzana Gdovinova, MD, PhD, Professor , Neurology, Faculty of Medicine Safarik University, Kosice, Slovakia
Johan W Groothoff, MD, PhD, Professor , Department of Community & Occupational Health, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
Jitse P van Dijk, Professor, MD, PhD , The Kosice Institute of Society and Health, Safarik University, Kosice, Slovakia



Background: Fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) can be associated with lower health related quality of life (HRQoL).

Objectives: The aim of study was to explore the association of fatigue with physical and mental component of HRQoL in MS patients controlling for sociodemographic and clinical data.

Methods: The study comprised 152 patients (75.7% women, mean age 40.0 ±10 years, mean EDSS 3.2±1.4).  Fatigue was measured by the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20); two subscales of fatigue were used- physical and mental. Anxiety and depression was assessed by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and HRQoL by the Short Form 36 (SF-36). Functional disability was assessed using Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Multiple linear regression analyses were performed.

Results:  Physical fatigue was present in 61% and mental fatigue in 44% of patients. The model consisting of physical fatigue (p<0.001), EDSS (p<0.001), age (p=0.051) and mental fatigue (p=0.052) explained 68% of variance in Physical Component Summary (PCS). The model consisting of mental fatigue (p<0.001), anxiety (p<0.001) and depression (p=0.001) explained 60% of variance in Mental Component Summary (MCS).

Conclusions: Both physical and mental fatigue are highly prevalent in MS. Higher physical fatigue, more severe disability, older age and higher mental fatigue were associated with worse score on PCS. Higher mental fatigue, more severe anxiety and depression were associated with worse score on MCS. Fatigue has important impact on quality of life in patients with MS. Thus, effective treatment of the fatigue could improve a patient’s HRQoL.

See more of: Symptom Management (Poster)
See more of: CMSC
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