Fatigue Impact Scale Score Research Articles

Cognitive fatigue in multiple sclerosis: Findings from a two-wave screening project

Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients commonly suffer from fatigue and define it as one of their most disabling symptom profoundly disrupting their lives. However, the relationship of fatigue to cognitive functions and its impact on quality of life have not been widely studied. Aim To define (1) “cognitive fatigue”, (2) survey its frequency and (3) characterize severity and impact on quality of life in MS patients in the first 10 years of the disease. Methods A two-wave design was utilized to enrich the studied population in subjects whose fatigue is significant. In the first wave, fatigue was measured by the self-reported fatigue severity scale (FSS) in randomly selected MS patients from our computerized database. Patients responding to the 9th item of the FSS i.e., “Fatigue interferes with my work, family, or social life” by a grade of 3 or higher (of 7) were further assessed (wave two) by the fatigue impact scale (FIS) and the RAYS quality of life questionnaire. Results Of the 259 patients that completed the first-wave screening, 158 patients (61%, 118 females, mean age 41.1 ± 9.2 years, mean disease duration 6.2 ± 5.5 years) satisfied the additional criterion and were defined to suffer from significant fatigue. The great majority of these patients–91.7%–had a relapsing–remitting disease course, mean FIS score was 77 ± 25.9 and their mean EDSS was 2.9 ± 2.6. Fatigue was reported to occur most of the day in 30.9% of patients, persist in 69% for more than 1 year, and in 59.8%, it was reported not to be associated with effort. No correlations were found between age, gender, disease duration or neurological disability and FIS cognitive subscale score. Significant correlations were found between the FIS cognitive subscale score and the three domains (physical, psychological and social-familial) of the RAYS quality of life questionnaire ( p < 0.001). Conclusions Cognitive fatigue was found in more than half of MS patients in the first decade from onset that were particularly selected for significant fatigue in their lives. This aspect of fatigue correlated with all quality of life domains and especially with psychological everyday tasks.

Relative impact of fatigue and subclinical cognitive brain dysfunction on health-related quality of life in chronic hepatitis C infection

To assess the relative impact of fatigue and subclinical cognitive brain dysfunction on the impairment of health-related quality of life (HRQL) in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We performed a cross-sectional study in 120 patients with untreated chronic HCV infection to test the hypothesis that the severity of fatigue had an independent effect on HCV-associated impairment of HRQL. Patients were investigated using the short-form-36 questionnaire, the fatigue impact scale, the brief fatigue inventory, and P300 event-related potentials, as an objective correlate of neurocognitive function. Patients with decompensated cirrhosis or clinical depression were excluded. Relative to healthy controls, HCV-infected patients showed significant levels of fatigue (Fatigue Impact Scale, 49 versus 26 points, brief fatigue inventory, 3.0 versus 1.6 points, P < 0.001). Fatigue impact scale and brief fatigue inventory scores were highly correlated (r = 0.77, P < 0.001), demonstrating concurrent validity. Severity of fatigue and age were the only factors independently associated with the impairment of HRQL (P < 0.001). Fatigue was not related to the severity of hepatitis or the degree of subclinical brain dysfunction. In untreated patients with chronic HCV infection, fatigue severity and age but not neurocognitive dysfunction or hepatic function are independently associated with impaired HRQL. Both the fatigue impact scale and the brief fatigue inventory are suitable tools to assess the subjective burden of fatigue. Our findings stress the need for effective therapeutic interventions to reduce the burden of fatigue in patients with HCV infection.

A randomized controlled crossover trial of aspirin for fatigue in multiple sclerosis

Pharmacotherapeutic options for multiple sclerosis (MS)-related fatigue are limited. Thirty patients were randomly assigned to aspirin (ASA) 1,300 mg/day or placebo in a double-blind crossover study. Results favored ASA for the main clinical outcomes: Modified Fatigue Impact Scale scores (p = 0.043) and treatment preference (p = 0.012). There were no significant adverse effects. The results warrant further study and support a role for ASA-influenced mechanisms, perhaps immunologic, in the generation of MS-related chronic fatigue.

Reliability and validity of the Swedish version of the Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS)

Fatigue is a complex phenomenon that, for those not affected, is hard to understand. To achieve better assessments, caregivers need reliable and valid tools. The aim of this study was to investigate the reliability and validity of the Swedish version of the Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS) among working-aged individuals diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), as well as in a comparative group randomly selected from the general population in the same geographical area. Both individuals with MS (n=161) and individuals recruited from the general population (n=194) participated in the study. A questionnaire was used for the data collection. The data were analysed using non-parametric statistical methods. Reliability of FIS was addressed by item-to-item and item-to-total correlations. Concurrent validity was tested for by analysing correlations between the FIS and general questions, and construct validity by investigation of differences in the FIS scores between known groups. The FIS was found to be homogenous, with item-to-total correlation coefficients of 0.42 ≤ rs≤0.86 (p<0.001), reflecting the instrument's reliability. The correlations between the FIS and the general questions confirm its concurrent validity, 0.27 ≤ rs≤0.84 (p<0.001). The differences in FIS scores between known groups demonstrate its construct validity. Furthermore, the FIS showed the ability to discriminate between groups of individuals with differences in perceived impact of fatigue.

Employment Status and Financial Repercussions in 60 Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Spain

AbstractChronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a disabling disorder with implications in employment status. We enrolled 60 patients who fulfilled the CDC diagnostic criteria of Holmes and those of Fukuda. All patients underwent a protocol involving a structured questionnaire to record diagnostic criteria items, clinical features of fatigue, social features and associated symptoms; application of the Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS); an employment repercussion questionnaire; and information on evolution of the symptoms. Statistical comparisons were performed with the Mann-Whitney U test and correlations with the Spearman test. A close correlation was found between work inactivity and higher scores in the FIS cognitive dimension. Patient age and duration of symptoms also correlated with high cognitive scores. Chronic fatigue syndrome patients report a considerable decrease in quality of life, and most of them have work limitations, particularly those with poor overall FIS scores and cognitive function scores.

The Impact of Fatigue on Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Although fatigue is recognized as a symptom of MS, there have been insufficient methods for evaluating this symptom. We administered the Fatigue Impact Scale to 85 MS patients and 20 hypertensive patients. Neurologic impairment, mental health, and general health status were also assessed. MS patients reported significantly higher fatigue impact than hypertensive patients. Most MS patients reported fatigue as either their worst (14%), or one of their worst (55%) symptoms. Disease classification and neurologic impairment had little bearing on Fatigue Impact Scale scores in the MS sample. The best predictive models for mental health and general health status in the MS sample both included the Fatigue Impact Scale as a significant factor. This study demonstrates that: 1) fatigue is a very prevalent and severe problem in MS, 2) fatigue impact cannot be predicted by clinical measures of neurologic impairment, 3) fatigue has a significant effect on the mental health and general health status of MS patients.