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The true impact of fatigue in primary biliary cirrhosis: A population study

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Martin Prince, Dr Anna Baragiotta, Professor Margaret Bassendine, Emeritus Professor Oliver James, Professor David Jones

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Abstract

Background & Aims: Patient surveys suggest that fatigue is a common problem in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). The actual extent of the problems caused by fatigue in PBC has yet to be determined as previous studies addressing this question have tended to use selected patient subgroups and subjective or non-quantitative fatigue assessment tools. Here, we have attempted to more accurately assess the extent of fatigue in PBC, and the specificity of the symptom for this disease, by the application of an objective measure of fatigue impact (the fatigue impact score [FIS]) to a geographically based patient cohort, age- and sex-matched normal controls, and chronic liver disease controls. Methods: Postal completion of the FIS and linked symptom assessment tools. Results: Median FIS was significantly higher in patients (n = 136) than community controls (40 [0-138] vs. 28 [0-156]; P < 0.0001) and chronic liver disease controls (n = 38) (20.5 [0-145]; P < 0.05). Fatigue scores in the 11 patients who had undergone liver transplantation (median 3.5 years previously) were the same as those in non-transplanted patients with advanced disease. Conclusions: Fatigue is a significant and specific problem in PBC. It is not, however, universal and affects fewer patients than has previously been thought to be the case based on data from selected patient cohorts. This definition of the "normal range" for fatigue in PBC will assist in future studies of etiology and therapy.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Goldblatt J, Taylor PJS, Lipman T, Prince MI, Baragiotta A, Bassendine MF, James OFW, Jones DEJ

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Gastroenterology

Year: 2002

Volume: 122

Issue: 5

Pages: 1235-1241

Print publication date: 01/01/2002

ISSN (print): 0016-5085

ISSN (electronic): 1528-0012

Publisher: WB Saunders Co.

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/gast.2002.32993

DOI: 10.1053/gast.2002.32993

PubMed id: 11984509


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