title: The burden of fatigue and quality of life in myeloproliferative disorders (MPDs): an international Internet-based survey of 1179 MPD patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few objective data exist on the burden of fatigue and other constitutional symptoms in patients with myeloproliferative disorders (MPD).
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors used validated instruments of fatigue and physical activity assessment during an Internet-based symptom survey of 1179 MPD patients (median age, 56 years; 41.4% men).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequency of self-reporting was 80.7% for fatigue, which was substantially higher than that of pruritus (52.2%), night sweats (49.2%), bone pain (43.9%), fever (13.7%), and weight loss (13.1%). In the majority of patients, these symptoms restricted participation in both social functions and physical activity. In addition, 34.5% of patients needed assistance with activities of daily living, and 11.2% reported MPD-associated medical disability. As expected, the presence of myelofibrosis, anemia, splenomegaly, or other features associated with advanced disease favored a higher degree of fatigue. However, fatigue remained the major complaint also in polycythemia vera (84.9%) and essential thrombocythemia (72.4%); these figures were significantly higher than those of published controls (P < .0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current study identifies fatigue as the major contributor to poor quality of life in MPD, provides baseline information on constitutional symptoms, and underscores the need for the incorporation of quality of life assessment in clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA. mesa.ruben@mayo.edu
authors.forename: Ruben A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Mesa
authors.forename: Joyce
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Niblack
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wadleigh
authors.forename: Srdan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Verstovsek
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Camoriano
authors.forename: Sunni
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.forename: Angelina D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Pamela J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Atherton
authors.forename: Jeff A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Sloan
authors.forename: Ayalew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tefferi
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D003625:Data Collection; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009196:Myeloproliferative Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D011087:Polycythemia Vera / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011788:Quality of Life