Correlates of fatigue in HIV infection prior to AIDS: a pilot study

Fatigue is widely recognized as a significant source of morbidity in persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, yet there are few data examining fatigue in this population. We present pilot data assessing the relationship between fatigue and various physical and psychosocial measures in 20 men with HIV infection prior to the clinical development of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Fatigue was measured by a visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Fatigue Assessment Inventory (FAI). No statistically significant associations were found between fatigue measures and physical parameters including haemoglobin, haematocrit, albumin, total protein, and physical dimension score of the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP). The FAI correlated well with Beck's Depression Inventory and SIP-Psychosocial Dimension (r = 0.72 and 0.81, respectively; p < 0.001.) Both the FAI and VAS held moderate associations with the total SIP score. The SIP profile was similar to that observed in a sample of persons with chronic fatigue but without HIV infection, reported previously. Although the sample size is small, our data suggest a stronger association with psychosocial, rather than physical, parameters among persons with HIV infection and fatigue. The implications for clinical management and further research are discussed.