Validation of the fatigue severity scale in a Swiss cohort.
BACKGROUND
Fatigue is highly prevalent and has a negative impact on quality of life and performance in a variety of disorders. The 9-item Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) is one of the most commonly used self-report questionnaires to measure fatigue, but has only been validated in small sample-sized studies and in single disorders.


OBJECTIVE
To validate the FSS in healthy subjects and different disorders known to be commonly associated with fatigue.


METHODS
The FSS was administered to 454 healthy subjects, 188 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), 235 patients with recent ischemic stroke, and 429 patients with sleep-wake disorders including narcolepsy with cataplexy (n=22), restless legs syndrome (RLS) (n=79), sleep apnea (n=108), insomnia (n=62), parasomnia (n=25), excessive daytime sleepiness/hypersomnia of other origin (n=84, and other sleep-wake disorders (n=49.


RESULTS
FSS scores were 4.66 +/- 1.64 (mean +/- SD) in patients with MS, 3.90 +/- 1.85 in patients after ischemic stroke, and 4.34 +/- 1.64 in patients with sleep-wake disorders. Compared to patients, values were significantly lower in healthy subjects (3.00 +/- 1.08, P < 0.01). Scores did not correlate with gender, age, or education. Item analysis showed an excellent internal consistency and reliability (Cronbach alpha = 0.93). Test-retest variability was assessed in 104 healthy subjects, showing stable values over time (2.94 +/- 0.90 vs. 2.90 +/- 0.74; P = 0.27).


CONCLUSIONS
This first validation of a fatigue scale in a large sample size demonstrates that the FSS is a simple and reliable instrument to assess and quantify fatigue for clinical and research purposes.
Valko
Philipp O
PO
Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Bassetti
Claudio L
CL
Bloch
Konrad E
KE
Held
Ulrike
U
Baumann
Christian R
CR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006970:Disorders of Excessive Somnolence / Q000453:epidemiology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020178:Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult