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Prevalence of fatigue in general practice
1Department of General Practice, University College Dublin, Ireland. walter.cullen@ucd.ie
Irish Journal of Medical Science
|May 8, 2002
Summary
Fatigue is a common, unsolicited symptom in general practice, affecting 25% of patients. Its prevalence and presentation are influenced by both patient and doctor characteristics.
Area of Science:
- General Practice
- Symptomatology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Fatigue is a significant symptom in general practice.
- It is associated with physical, psychological, and social issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of fatigue as an unsolicited symptom during general practice consultations.
Main Methods:
- A random sample of 89 General Practitioners (GPs) in Ireland collected data on 1,428 consultations over one day.
- Data included the presence of fatigue (main or supporting symptom) and patient demographics.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of fatigue was 25%, with 6.5% presenting fatigue as the main reason for consultation.
- Fatigue was more common in female patients and associated with attending female GPs, GPs with fewer years of experience, and frequent GP attendance.
Conclusions:
- The reported prevalence of fatigue (25%) is significantly higher than previously documented.
- Both patient and doctor characteristics appear to play a role in the presentation of fatigue in general practice.