The relationship between mental fatigue, cognitive functioning, and employment status in patients with low-grade glioma: a cross-sectional single-center study

Abstract

Purpose To evaluate fatigue and cognitive functioning in patients with low-grade glioma and to assess whether cognitive functioning and employment status differ between patients with severe and non-severe mental fatigue. Methods Cross-sectional study. Fatigue was measured with the multidimensional fatigue inventory, objective cognitive functioning with a neuropsychological test battery, and mood with the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Results Thirty-one patients, mean age 44 ± 11, mean time post-diagnosis 2.5 ± 1.4 years, participated. Severe mental fatigue was present in 55% and depression in 36% of the patients. Attention deficits were observed in 75% (Stroop’s test), memory deficits in 36% (Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test), and executive functioning deficits in 42% (Stroop’s test). Severe mental fatigue patients demonstrated significantly worse scores on Stroop’s test-Card-II (p = 0.043), Trail Making Test-B (p = 0.014), Trail Making Test-B/A (p = 0.014), and Digit-Span (p = 0.046), compared to non-severe mental fatigue patients. Severe mental fatigue patients worked significantly less hours per week (p = 0.013) and had more changes in their employment status (p = 0.009) after diagnosis. Conclusions Patients with low grade glioma show high rates of fatigue, especially in the mental domain, which might be associated with deficits in cognitive functioning and changes in employment status. Implications for rehabilitation The majority of patients with low grade glioma suffers from severe mental fatigue and has deficits in cognitive functioning, which may affect employment status. Patients with low grade glioma should be screened for fatigue with the multidimensional fatigue inventory, to differentiate between mental and physical fatigue. Patients with low grade glioma with severe mental fatigue should be screened for problems in cognitive functioning with an objective neuropsychological test battery. Cognitive and vocational rehabilitation programs should aim at coping with severe mental fatigue and attention deficits in patients with low grade glioma.