Prevalence of fatigue and its explicative variables among people with multiple sclerosis

Fatigue is the most prevalent symptom among people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Although exercise effectively reduces fatigue, the relationship between daily physical activity and fatigue has only recently been demonstrated.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of fatigue and to understand the relationship with several variables in French PwMS.

Data were collected from 191 PwMS using Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) for fatigue, and the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire (GLTEQ) for physical activity.

110 PwMS (57%), 35 PwMS (18%) and 46 PwMS (24%) were considered as fatigued, non-fatigued and in the grey zone, respectively. Greater physical activity was observed in non-fatigued PwMS (20.2±19.8) compared to fatigued PwMS (12.5±14.1). FSS and MFIS scores were associated with physical activity (r = -0.28 and r = -0.25, respectively, p < 0.05). Using multivariate analysis, disability, physical activity and being unemployed explained 21% of the variance of the MFIS.

The present study confirms that physical activity and fatigue are associated. Disability and unemployment status should also to be consider when assessing fatigue. Activity-oriented health policies should be redesigned to improve fatigue among PwMS.