title: Prevalence and correlates of fatigue among persons with HIV infection.
abstract: To describe prevalence of fatigue and its correlates among persons with HIV infection, we abstracted medical records of 13,768 persons in care for HIV in >100 US clinics. The prevalence of fatigue (defined as fatigue, malaise, or weakness that was the primary reason for a medical visit, was persistent, or was severe enough to preclude work) was 37%. Fatigue was more common among persons with clinical AIDS (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.3, CI 1.1-1.5); depression (AOR 2.4, CI 2.1-2.7); and hemoglobin concentrations <8, 8-10, and 10-12 g/dL (AORs 3.3 [CI 2.4-4.6], 2.7 [CI 2.2-3.2], and 1.5 [CI 1.3-1.7], respectively). Fatigue was not associated with viral load or CD4 cell count <200/microl. Fatigue cannot be viewed solely as a constitutional symptom of progressive HIV disease. Physicians should seek underlying, treatable causes for fatigue such as depression and anemia and treat these conditions when they are found.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention-Surveillance and Epidemiology, 1600 Clifton Road E-46, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
authors.forename: Patrick S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Dworkin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005221:Fatigue / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index