Individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) reporting higher levels of fatigue concomitantly exhibited greater impairments in functional mobility, depression, and physical and mental quality of life (QOL). Disability, however, was not found to be related to level of fatigue, according to a recent study. Researchers evaluated 80 persons with MS (mean disease duration=13.9 [9.8] years, mean Expanded Disability Status Scale [EDSS] score=5.3[1.5]) and no concurrent relapses. Participants were divided into 2 groups based on 5-item Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS-5) scores: group LF (n=32, MFIS-5 score ≤10 [low levels of fatigue]) and group HF (n=57, MFIS-5 score >10 [high levels of fatigue]). They found:

• 64% of the sample reported high levels of fatigue.

• Compared with group LF, group HF demonstrated significantly greater impairments in the Timed Up and Go test, Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale, and 12-item Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale scores; depression; and QOL, but not in the EDSS scores, which were not significantly different between groups.

Citation: Garg H, Bush S, Gappmaier E. Associations between fatigue and disability, functional mobility, depression, and quality of life in people with multiple sclerosis. Int J MS Care. 2016;18(2):71-7. doi:10.7224/1537-2073.2015-013.