The Clinical Correlations of Fatigue in Patients with Sarcoidosis.

Objective: Fatigue is considered a frequent and characteristic feature of sarcoidosis. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of fatigue in patients with sarcoidosis and to determine its potential clinical correlations in relation to symptom severity. Methods: A total of 56 sarcoidosis patients were included. Data on patient demographics, anthropometrics, disease characteristics, pulmonary function tests, 6-min walking distance (6MWD), blood biochemistry and hemogram findings were retrieved from hospital records. Psychometric instruments involved fatigue assessment scale (FAS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Short Form-36 (SF-36) for health-related QOL (HRQOL). Results: Mean±SD patient age was 50.9±11.9 years. Of 56 patients, 44 were females and 12 were males. When compared to FAS score <22 and FAS score ≥22-34 subgroups, FAS score ≥35 (severe fatigue) subgroup was associated with significantly higher patient age and significantly lower SF-36 physical health scores. Total FAS scores were correlated positively with age (r=0.349, p=0.008) and BDI scores (r=0.515, p<0.001), while negatively with MIP (r=-0.321, p=0.019) and SF-36 physical health (r=-0.402, p=0.003) and mental health (r=-0.351, p=0.009) scores. BDI score (OR 1.146, 95% CI: 1.020 to 1.288, p=0.021) was determined to be the single independent predictor of increased likelihood of a patient with sarcoidosis to have FAS score ≥22. Conclusions: Our findings emphasize that deterioration in respiratory functions may contribute to development of fatigue among sarcoidosis patients, and besides the fatigue, depressive symptoms and anxiety should also be an integral part of the multidisciplinary management of sarcoidosis patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]