1. Predictors of Fatigue Severity in Early Systemic Sclerosis: A Prospective Longitudinal Study of the GENISOS Cohort
- Author
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Assassi, Shervin, Leyva, Astrud L, Mayes, Maureen D, Sharif, Roozbeh, Nair, Deepthi K, Fischbach, Michael, Nguyen, Ngan, Reveille, John D, Gonzalez, Emilio B, and McNearney, Terry A
- Subjects
Scleroderma ,Clinical Research ,Autoimmune Disease ,Inflammatory and immune system ,Demography ,Fatigue ,Female ,Humans ,Longitudinal Studies ,Male ,Middle Aged ,Multivariate Analysis ,Prospective Studies ,Scleroderma ,Systemic ,Severity of Illness Index ,Time Factors ,GENISOS Study Group ,General Science & Technology - Abstract
ObjectivesLongitudinal studies examining the baseline predictors of fatigue in SSc have not been reported. Our objectives were to examine the course of fatigue severity over time and to identify baseline clinical, demographic, and psychosocial predictors of sequentially obtained fatigue scores in early SSc. We also examined baseline predictors of change in fatigue severity over time.MethodsWe analyzed 1090 longitudinal Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) scores belonging to 256 patients who were enrolled in the Genetics versus Environment in Scleroderma Outcomes Study (GENISOS). Predictive significance of baseline variables for sequentially obtained FSS scores was examined with generalized linear mixed models. Predictors of change in FSS over time were examined by adding an interaction term between the baseline variable and time-in-study to the model.ResultsThe patients' mean age was 48.6 years, 47% were Caucasians, and 59% had diffuse cutaneous involvement. The mean disease duration at enrollment was 2.5 years. The FSS was obtained at enrollment and follow-up visits (mean follow-up time = 3.8 years). Average baseline FSS score was 4.7(±0.96). The FSS was relatively stable and did not show a consistent trend for change over time (p = 0.221). In a multivariable model of objective clinical variables, higher Medsger Gastrointestinal (p = 0.006) and Joint (p = 0.024) Severity Indices, and anti-U1-RNP antibodies (p = 0.024) were independent predictors of higher FSS. In the final model, ineffective coping skills captured by higher Illness Behavior Questionnaire scores (p
- Published
- 2011