Fatigue in psoriatic arthritis: Is it related to disease activity?

Abstract

Aim Fatigue is commonly associated with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). However, information about its prevalence and associated factors is sparse. The primary objective here was to find the prevalence and magnitude of PsA fatigue. The secondary objective was to explore its associated risk factors, particularly emphasis on the effect of disease activity control. Methods PsA patients who fulfilled Classification Criteria For Psoriatic Arthritis were consecutively recruited from local rheumatology clinics. Fatigue was assessed by a 13‐item self‐administered questionnaire (Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy – Fatigue [FACIT‐F]) (0‐52). Data collected and analyzed included: demographic data, disease activity data, comorbidities and medications use. Results There were 231 eligible PsA patients recruited. The mean FACIT‐F score was 37.5 ± 9.1. Severe fatigue, defined as FACIT‐F score < 30, was found in 49 (22.1%) of them. The univariate model identified these associated factors of fatigue: tender and swollen joint count, dactylitis count, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score, pain and general health perception, Disease Activity in Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA) score, Health Assessment Questionnaire, the use of cyclosporine, sulphasalazine and biologic agents. The final regression model identified DAPSA and PASI were closely associated with severe fatigue (P = .003 and P = .04 respectively). No associations with fatigue were found between age, gender, disease duration, comorbidities and medication use. However, there were weak correlations between the magnitude of FACIT‐F score, DAPSA and PASI with r = −.3 and r = −.26 respectively. Conclusion Severe fatigue was common in PsA patients, and its magnitude was closely correlated with DAPSA and PASI score, indicating its multifactorial nature. Achieving DAPSA and PASI remission could significantly alleviate the fatigue intensity to a certain extent. However, treatment for PsA‐related fatigue should adopt a multidisciplinary approach in addition to disease activity control.

Associations between cardiovascular risk factors, disease activity and cardiorespiratory fitness in patients with inflammatory joint disease: a cross-sectional analysis

“…This may serve to illustrate that despite the advent of biologic therapies and targets of disease remission in IJD, there may be discrepancies between what is captured by clinical measures of disease activity and the patient's perception of disease burden. Considering the high prevalence of fatigue in IJD [48] and positive correlation to disease activity [49,50], we addressed fatigue as a possible associate of CRF. Although few studies have assessed this relationship, low levels of physical activity correlate with fatigue in patients with IJD [40], and an inactive lifestyle can negatively impact CRF.…”

Burden and Disease Characteristics of Psoriatic Arthritis Among King Abdulaziz University Hospital Patients

“…Also, HRQOL, FACIT, FACIT-F, and disease severity affected each other to different degrees as proved by previous studies [ 20 , 21 ], as changes in fatigue were shown to reflect changes in clinical disease activity in PsA. In addition, among PsA patients, the sense of tiredness, loss of energy, and exhaustion not only decreased QoL but also affected academic or work performance, daily activity, exercise level, and social interaction [ 22 ].…”

The Impact of Surgical Treatment with Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Ovarian Cancer on Disorders in the Urinary System and Quality of Life in Women

“…Next, we assessed the effect of the treatment on the degree of fatigue experienced by the patients using the FACIT-F questionnaire and the intensity of pain via the VAS scale. It should be remembered that the FACIT-Fi questionnaires and the VAS scale are used successfully outside of oncology, too [ 32 , 33 ].…”