Abstract
BACKGROUND: Fatigue has been underinvestigated in stable kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). The objectives of this study were to investigate the nature, severity, prevalence, and clinical awareness of fatigue in medically stable KTRs, examine the impact of fatigue on quality of life (QoL), and explore the underlying causes of posttransplantation fatigue.
METHODS: This single-center cross-sectional study enrolled 106 stable KTRs. Multi-dimensional Fatigue Inventory-20 was used to measure five fatigue dimensions: General Fatigue, Physical Fatigue, Reduced Activity, Reduced Motivation, and Mental Fatigue. Clinical awareness of fatigue was determined by reviewing medical records. QoL was assessed by Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 Questionnaire. Demographic, clinical, psychosocial, and behavioral parameters were evaluated as fatigue predictors.
RESULTS: Fatigue was found in 59% of KTRs. Only 13% had this symptom documented in medical records. Fatigue in KTRs was in the same range as chronically unwell patients, with Physical Fatigue, Reduced Activity, and Reduced Motivation approached levels observed in chronic fatigue syndrome. All fatigue dimensions significantly and inversely correlated with QoL (P<0.001 for all associations). Demographic predictors were male, older age, and non-Caucasian ethnicity (P≤0.05 for all associations). Clinical predictors included elevated highly sensitive C-reactive protein (inflammation), decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate (graft dysfunction), and reduced lean tissue index (P≤0.05 for all associations). Psychosocial and behavioral predictors were inferior sleep quality, anxiety, and depression (P<0.01 for all associations).
CONCLUSIONS: Fatigue is common and pervasive in clinically stable KTRs. It is strongly associated with reduced QoL. This study identified modifiable fatigue predictors and sets the scene for future interventional studies.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 987-994 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Transplantation |
| Volume | 96 |
| Issue number | 11 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 15 Dec 2013 |
Keywords
- Adult
- Aged
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- England
- Fatigue
- Female
- Health Status
- Humans
- Kidney Transplantation
- Linear Models
- Male
- Mental Health
- Middle Aged
- Motivation
- Multivariate Analysis
- Odds Ratio
- Prevalence
- Quality of Life
- Risk Factors
- Severity of Illness Index
- Treatment Outcome
Access to Document
- Chan_Predictors_and_Consequences_of_Fatigue_in Kidney_Transplant_Recipients_Transplantation_2013
This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Transplantation. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Transplantation, Vol 96, Issue 11, 2013. DOI: 10.1097/TP.0b013e3182a2e88b