Prevalence of fatigue, pain, and affective disorders in adults with duchenne muscular dystrophy and their associations with quality of life

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of fatigue, pain, anxiety, and depression in adults with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), and to analyze their relationship with health-related quality of life.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Home of participants.

Participants: Adults (N=80) with DMD.

Interventions: Not applicable.

Main outcome measures: Fatigue was assessed with the Fatigue Severity Scale; pain with 1 item of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey and by interview; and anxiety and depression by using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Health-related quality of life was assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale-Brief Version. Associations between these conditions and quality of life were assessed by means of univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.

Results: Symptoms of fatigue (40.5%), pain (73.4%), anxiety (24%), and depression (19%) were frequently found. Individuals often had multiple conditions. Fatigue was related to overall quality of life and to the quality-of-life domains of physical health and environment; anxiety was related to the psychological domain.

Conclusions: Fatigue, pain, anxiety, and depression, potentially treatable symptoms, occur frequently in adults with DMD and significantly influence health-related quality of life.

Keywords: Adult; Fatigue; Mood disorders; Muscular dystrophy, Duchenne; Pain; Quality of life; Rehabilitation.