Disability, quality of life, personality, cognitive and psychological variables associated with fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis

ObjectiveTo examine the associations between function, quality of life, personality, cognitive and psychological outcomes with fatigue in patients with MS. MethodsOne hundred and eight patients (54% women) with definite MS participated. MS-related fatigue was assessed with the Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS). Demographic and clinical data (weight, height, medication and history of pain), specific disease outcomes (Functional Assessment of Multiple Sclerosis/FAMS), general disease outcomes (Beck Depression Inventory/BDI-II, and Short-Form Health Survey 36/SF-36) and personality (NEO Five-Factor Inventory/NEOFFI) were assessed. Correlation and regression analyses were performed to determine associations between variables. ResultsA significant positive correlation existed between the FIS and EDSS (r=0.190; P<0.05). Significant negative correlations between the FIS with specific disease (FAMS mobility: r=-0.333, P<0.01; FAMS symptoms: r=-0.443, P<0.01; FAMS emotional well-being: r=-0.412, P<0.01; FAMS general contentment: r=-0.325, P<. 01; and, FAMS thinking/fatigue: r=-0.706, P<0.01); general disease (all domains SF36: -0.508<-0.302; P<0.01); and personality (NEOFFI neuroticism: r=-0.39, P<0.01; agreeableness: r=-0.206, P<0.05; conscientiousness: r=-0.279, P<0.01) were also observed. Stepwise regression analyses revealed that FAMS thinking/fatigue, physical function (SF-36) and FAMS emotional well-being explained 62.5% of the variance in fatigue (r(2)=0.652; r(2) adjusted=0.625; F=23.774; P<0.001). ConclusionsThis study indicates that MS-related fatigue shows an impact on physical, cognitive and emotional aspects in this population.