RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Chronic fatigue in sarcoidosis-in-clinical-remission: Psychological and physical characteristics
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 4521
VO 38
IS Suppl 55
A1 Ingrid Korenromp
A1 Cobi Heijnen
A1 Oscar Vogels
A1 Jan Grutters
YR 2011
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/4521.abstract
AB When sarcoidosis is in clinical remission, complaints of chronic fatigue often persist. The exact features of this post-inflammatory fatigue are unknown. This study assesses the severity of fatigue and the presence of fatigue-related symptoms in sarcoidosis-in-clinical-remission. Furthermore, we evaluate psychological distress, pain and patient-reported sleep quality, and record physical activity levels and muscle strength as objective assessments of fatigue. Lastly, we assess the severity of fatigue at a follow-up.Methods: Seventy-five patients with sarcoidosis-in-clinical-remission were evaluated with the Checklist Individual Strength (fatigue), the SymptomChecklist-90 (psychological distress), the McGill Pain Questionnaire (pain), standardized interview (fatigue-related symptoms), sleep diary, accelerometer and muscle strength tests.Results: Fatigue severity mean score in sarcoidosis patients in-clinical-remission was high (fatigue-severity score: 30.5±15.5), and fatigue-related symptoms were significantly more present in the fatigued patients. Median time since diagnosis was 9 years. Fatigue was significantly associated with increased psychological distress, higher pain severity scores and more pain points, reduced physical activity and reduced muscle strength. Scores on sleep quality were normal. Response at follow-up was 87%. Fatigue severity scores of the responding group were significantly increased compared to a year before.Conclusions: Fatigue in sarcoidosis patients in clinical remission is a long-lasting and severe problem that deteriorates over time. This post-inflammatory chronic fatigue is associated with a constellation of psychological and physical symptoms.