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Prevalence, severity and correlates of fatigue in newly diagnosed patients with myelodysplastic syndromes
Author(s) -
Efficace Fabio,
Gaidano Gianluca,
Breccia Massimo,
Criscuolo Marianna,
Cottone Francesco,
Caocci Giovanni,
Bowen David,
Lübbert Michael,
Angelucci Emanuele,
Stauder Reinhard,
Selleslag Dominik,
Platzbecker Uwe,
Sanpaolo Grazia,
Jonasova Anna,
Buccisano Francesco,
Specchia Giorgina,
Palumbo Giuseppe A.,
Niscola Pasquale,
Wan Chonghua,
Zhang Huiyong,
Fenu Susanna,
Klimek Virginia,
BeyneRauzy Odile,
Nguyen Khanh,
Mandelli Franco
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/bjh.13138
Subject(s) - medicine , quality of life (healthcare) , myelodysplastic syndromes , international prognostic scoring system , chronic fatigue , physical therapy , chronic fatigue syndrome , bone marrow , nursing
Summary The primary objective of this study was to investigate factors associated with fatigue severity in newly diagnosed patients with higher‐risk myelodysplastic syndromes ( MDS ). The secondary objectives were to assess symptom prevalence and to examine the relationships between fatigue, quality of life ( Q o L ) and overall symptom burden in these patients. The analyses were conducted in 280 higher‐risk MDS patients. Pre‐treatment patient‐reported fatigue was evaluated with the F unctional A ssessment of C hronic I llness T herapy ( FACIT )‐ F atigue scale and Q o L was assessed with the E uropean O rganization for R esearch and T reatment of C ancer Q uality of L ife Q uestionnaire‐ C ore 30 ( EORTC QLQ ‐ C 30). Female gender ( P = 0·018), poor performance status (i.e., ECOG of 2–4) ( P < 0·001) and lower levels of haemoglobin ( H b) ( P = 0·026) were independently associated with higher fatigue severity. The three most prevalent symptoms were as follows: fatigue (92%), dyspnoea (63%) and pain (55%). Patients with higher levels of fatigue also had greater overall symptom burdens. The mean global Q o L scores of patients with the highest versus those with the lowest levels of fatigue were 29·2 [standard deviation ( SD ), 18·3] and 69·0 ( SD , 18·8), respectively and this difference was four times the magnitude of a clinically meaningful difference. Patient‐reported fatigue severity revealed the effects of disease burden on overall Q o L more accurately than did degree of anaemia. Special attention should be given to the female patients in the management of fatigue.