Fatigue in Patients with Sarcoidosis in Denmark

Abstract

Introduction: Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease of unknown etiology, primarily affecting the lungs and thoracic lymph nodes. Fatigue is a frequent and disabling symptom in sarcoidosis with a significant impact on quality of life. In Denmark, the incidence of sarcoidosis has increased; however, the extent and risk factors of fatigue have not been investigated and no recent reports of the characteristics of patients with sarcoidosis in Denmark exist.

Aim: To assess the frequency of fatigue in patients with sarcoidosis in Denmark at diagnosis and to investigate if fatigue correlated with relevant disease parameters. Moreover, to characterize patients with sarcoidosis in Denmark at time of diagnosis.

Methods: Data were collected in 150 patients with recently diagnosed sarcoidosis. Fatigue was measured using the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS). Patients with fatigue were compared to non-fatigue patients regarding clinical parameters.

Results: FAS was completed by 145 of 150 patients. Fifty-one percent reported significant fatigue. Mean FAS score was 23.6 and 51% had a FAS score ≥ 22. Fatigue in 89 incident patients did not correlate significantly with demographics, physiological, or clinical parameters. Fifty-nine percent were males. Mean age was 47 years; mean values (% predicted) for pulmonary function tests were normal and 71% at Scadding stage 0-I.

Conclusion: In Denmark, fatigue was frequent in patients with sarcoidosis. The majority of patients had mild disease at diagnosis and were older but lower at Scadding stage at diagnosis compared to previous cohorts.

Keywords: Fatigue; Granulomatous; Pulmonary; Sarcoidosis.