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Fatigue and associated factors in a multi‐ethnic cohort of rheumatoid arthritis patients
Author(s) -
Lee Hwai Jien,
Pok Lydia Say Lee,
Ng Choung Min,
Yahya Fariz,
Sockalingam Sargunan,
Tee Ying Chew,
Raja Jasmin
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
international journal of rheumatic diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1756-185X
pISSN - 1756-1841
DOI - 10.1111/1756-185x.13897
Subject(s) - medicine , rheumatoid arthritis , rheumatism , erythrocyte sedimentation rate , cohort , quality of life (healthcare) , physical therapy , rheumatology , rheumatoid factor , body mass index , visual analogue scale , nursing
Fatigue is an important yet infrequently evaluated component in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and may have a major impact on quality of life. Objectives To evaluate fatigue, identify factors associated with fatigue and assess the effect of fatigue on health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) in a multi‐ethnic cohort of RA patients. Methods A cross‐sectional study was performed in patients who fulfilled European League Against Rheumatism/ American College of Rheumatology 2010 criteria for RA. Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy ‐ Fatigue (FACIT‐F) questionnaire was used to assess fatigue. Potential factors for fatigue were categorized into RA‐related (gender, seropositivity [rheumatoid factor and/or anti‐citrullinated protein antibody], disease duration, visual analog scale pain score, Disease Activity Score of 28 joints – erythrocyte sedimentation rate [DAS28‐ESR], ESR, hemoglobin level, functional disability [Health Assessment Questionnaire ‐ Disability Index, HAQ‐DI score], EQ‐5D‐3L, concomitant prednisolone use and number of conventional synthetic disease‐modifying anti‐rheumatic drugs [csDMARDs] used) and non‐RA‐related (age, body mass index, ethnicity and number of co‐morbidities). Results A total of 214 patients (86.9% female) were included; the median age was 62 (25‐91) years and 67.3% were seropositive. Seventy‐six (33.5%) patients had moderate disease activity, 12 (5.6%) had high disease activity and 152 (71%) patients had mild difficulties to moderate disability HAQ‐DI scores. Median of total FACIT‐F score was 113.2 (36.3‐160.0). Joint factors of younger age, longer disease duration, higher HAQ score (increased functional disability), and lower EQ‐5D (poorer HRQoL) were significantly associated with higher levels of fatigue (all P < .02). Conclusion Fatigue was associated with functional disability and has a significant impact on HRQoL in RA. Fatigue assessment should be considered in routine clinical practice for RA patients.