Perceived fatigue in multiple sclerosis: The importance of highlighting its impact on quality of life, social network and cognition

Abstract

Objectives: To study the relationship between perceived fatigue and heath related quality of life (HRQoL), social support and cognition in an Argentinean population of patients with MS (PwMS).

Patients and methods: 128 PwMS were studied, 75 women (58 %). Mean age: 40 ± 10.49 years-old, education: 14 ± 3.04, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS): 2.43 ± 1.87, evolution: 10.07 ± 7.23 years.

Instruments: Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS); EDSS; Beck's Depression Inventory II (BDI-II); International Quality of Life questionnaire (MusiQoL); Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOS); BICAMS Battery, 7/24 Spatial Recall Test, Paced Auditory Serial Task (PASAT-3), Word list generation task (WLG).

Results: Sixty-six patients (51.6 %) presented fatigue. Significant differences were found between fatigued and non-fatigued patients in EDSS and BDI II (p < 0.001). Fatigue was associated with age, EDSS and BDI II (p < 0.05). When analyzing differences in HRQoL between fatigued and non-fatigued patients statistically significant differences were found in MusiQol (p < 0.05). FSS proved to be an independent predictor of HRQoL (typified β =-0.612 and -0.287, p < 0.05). Fatigued patients had fewer friends in their social support network (p = 0.031) and worse performance in PASAT. FSS was established as an independent predictor of PASAT (β = -0.280, p = 0.009) CONCLUSION: Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and has a great impact on patients daily life. This study highlights the importance of studying fatigue and treating it properly, since otherwise, it contributes to the dysfunction of patients daily life with psychological and social consequences.

Keywords: Cognition; Fatigue; Multiple sclerosis; Quality of life; Social support.