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Fatigue in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is significant and associates with inactivity and excessive daytime sleepiness but not with liver disease severity or insulin resistance

Lookup NU author(s): Emerita Professor Julia Newton, Professor David Jones, Katharine Wilton, Professor Alastair BurtORCiD, Professor Chris Day

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Abstract

Objective: To quantify fatigue in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), to determine whether perceived fatigue reflects impairment of physical function and to explore potential causes. Patients and methods: A cohort study was carried out on 156 consecutive patients with histologically proven NAFLD studied in two cohorts. Phase 1 determined the perceived fatigue experienced by NAFLD patients (assessed using the Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS)) in comparison with normal and liver disease controls, and the relationship to physical function (actigraphy). In phase 2, biological associations of fatigue in NAFLD were explored. Results: Fatigue was markedly higher in NAFLD patients than in controls (mean (SD) FIS 51 (38) vs 8 (12), p<0.001). NAFLD patients showed significantly lower physical activity over 6 days (7089 (2909) mean steps/day vs 8676 (2894), p = 0.02). A significant inverse correlation was seen between FIS and physical activity (r2 = 0.1, p = 0.02). Fatigue experienced by NAFLD patients was similar to that in primary biliary cirrhosis (n = 36) (FIS 64 (9) vs 61 (2), p = NS). No association was seen between FIS and biochemical and histological markers of liver disease severity or insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment (HOMA)) (r2<0.005). Significant association was seen between fatigue severity and daytime somnolence (Epworth Sleepiness Scale) (r2 = 0.2, p<0.001). Conclusion: Fatigue is a significant problem in NAFLD, is similar in degree to that in primary biliary cirrhosis patients and is associated with impairment in physical function. Fatigue in NAFLD appears to be unrelated to either severity of underlying liver disease or insulin resistance, but is associated with significant daytime somnolence.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Newton JL, Jones DEJ, Henderson E, Kane L, Wilton K, Burt AD, Day CP

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Gut

Year: 2008

Volume: 57

Issue: 6

Pages: 807-813

ISSN (print): 0017-5749

ISSN (electronic): 1468-3288

Publisher: BMJ Group

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/gut.2007.139303

DOI: 10.1136/gut.2007.139303

PubMed id: 18270241


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
G0500020Medical Research Council

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