Fatigue in an older population.
OBJECTIVE
Fatigue is a common symptom that has not been studied well in the older populations. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the epidemiology of fatigue symptoms in relation to demographic and medical characteristics of older patients in a long-term care setting.


METHODS
A cross-sectional interviewer-assisted survey.


METHODS
A total of 199 ambulatory older residents of a single residential care facility.


METHODS
Along with medical and demographic characteristics, the survey included mental status (Folstein), activities of daily living (Katz and Lawton), depression (Yesavage GDS), a 3-minute walk, a 7-item pain scale, and the modified Piper Fatigue Scale.


RESULTS
One-hundred ninety-nine (65%) of 308 potential subjects completed the study (mean age 88 years, 82% female). Of these 199 subjects, 195 (98%) reported some fatigue symptoms (median duration 44 weeks). Significant (P < .0005) relationships were found between fatigue and GDS (r = 0.57), 3-minute walk (r = -0.29), Lawton IADLs (r = 0.31), pain (r = 0.36), and number of medications (r = 0.26). No significant relationships were found between fatigue and age, sex, Folstein score, or number of medical diagnoses. Multivariate regression analysis identified GDS, pain, number of medications and 3-minute walk as significant predictors of fatigue intensity (multiple R = 0.68, r2 = 0.46, P < .02).


CONCLUSIONS
Fatigue is a symptom often found among older residents of a residential facility and has important implications for quality of life. Fatigue is poorly recognized and probably undertreated in older people.
Liao
S
S
UCLA School of Medicine, and VA-UCLA Multicampus Program in Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Ferrell
B A
BA
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression; D005221:Fatigue / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D015141:Los Angeles / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016138:Walking