Prevalence and severity of multiple-sclerosis-associated fatigue in treated and untreated patients.
Fatigue is one of the most frequent and most disabling symptoms in multiple sclerosis (MS). We investigated the possible association of the MS-related fatigue syndrome with the available disease-modifying therapies and the main disease characteristics in a cross-sectional study on 320 consecutive patients. The prevalence of severe fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale score > or =5) was 50%. In a multivariate regression model controlling for age, disease subtype, duration and disability we did not find a significant association between the use of immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory drugs compared to no treatment (OR = 1.34, p = 0.38 for immunosuppressants; OR = 0.95, p = 0.85 for immune-modulating agents). Although all used disease-modifying agents successfully reduce disease activity and inflammation, they do not appear to exhibit a significant effect on MS-related fatigue.
Department of Neurology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany. norman.putzki@uni-due.de <norman.putzki@uni-due.de>
Norman
N
Putzki
Zaza
Z
Katsarava
Susanne
S
Vago
H C
HC
Diener
Volker
V
Limmroth
D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D018450:Disease Progression; D005221:Fatigue / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents