The fatigue descriptive scale (FDS): a useful tool to evaluate fatigue in multiple sclerosis

Author:

Iriarte J1,Katsamakis G2,De Castro P1

Affiliation:

1. Department of Neurology, Clínica Universitaria de Navarra, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain

2. Department of Neurology, Rush-Presbyterian-St Luke’s Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Abstract

Although fatigue is common among multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, evaluation of this symptom is difficult due to the subjectivity and variability of the complaint. We proposed the Fatigue Descriptive Scale (FDS) as a tool to evaluate the severity and quality of fatigue in a group of patients suffering from MS. As a way to demonstrate the usefulness of this scale we applied the FDS in a group of 155 patients (105 women and 50 men) with clinically-definite multiple sclerosis, as outlined according to Poser’s criteria. Age was 36.2±11.1 years (range 12-62) and time of evolution was 8.3±9.4 years (range 1-44). The Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) was also used. Descriptive statistics techniques and techniques for nonparametric distribution (Spearman Rank, Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA) were used. One hundred and eighteen patients reported fatigue (73 spontaneously, 45 when questioned). All descriptions of fatigue were ranked according to FDS categories. Eighty-five patients defined the symptom as fatigue with exercise, 26 as asthenia and seven as the worsening of other symptoms. Fatigue by itself produced limited or disrupted activity in 78 patients; work-related functions were limited in 48 patients; social relations were limited in 29 patients; and self-care was difficult for one patient. Fifty-six patients suffered fatigue daily. FDS score was 4.9±3.9 (range 0-13). FSS was 3.1±1.7 (range 0.2-6.6). FDS and FSS of Krupp were highly correlated (R=0.87, p<0.001). Therefore, in comparison with other scales, the FDS shows remarkable usefulness in classifying, periodicity, and severity of fatigue in MS patients. The high correlation with the FSS implies that it is a valid method to measure the severity of fatigue, as was demonstrated in our paper proposing the FDS. The importance of this new scale is its ability to inform the clinicians in a very quick, easy, and at the same time complete way, how severe the fatigue really is and how it affects the patient.

Publisher

SAGE Publications

Subject

Neurology (clinical),Neurology

Cited by 76 articles. 订阅此论文施引文献 订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3