Fatigue Symptoms During the First Year Following ARDS

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Pulmonology
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Fatigue is a common but understudied symptom in survivors of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).
• Empirical data on the prevalence and impact of fatigue in ARDS survivors are limited.
• Understanding long-term outcomes is crucial for improving patient recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the prevalence of fatigue among ARDS survivors.
• To identify patient and critical illness variables associated with fatigue.
• To examine the relationship between fatigue and physical, cognitive, and mental health status post-ARDS.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study of 711 ARDS survivors from the ARDSNet Long-Term Outcomes Study (ALTOS).
• Utilized the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue Scale to measure fatigue.
• Employed regression models to assess associations with patient, illness, and health status variables at 6 and 12 months.

Main Results:

• Clinically significant fatigue was reported by 70% at 6 months and 66% at 12 months post-ARDS.
• Fatigue prevalence exceeded that of impaired physical functioning, anxiety, and depression at 6 months.
• Fatigue severity was lower in men and those employed pre-ARDS; critical illness variables showed little association.

Conclusions:

• A majority of ARDS survivors experience significant fatigue within the first year.
• Fatigue frequently co-occurs with impaired physical, cognitive, and mental health.
• Clinical management should address physical, cognitive, and mental health in fatigued ARDS survivors.