Article

OBJECTIVE: To compare self-reported fatigue in 4 disability populations with
age-matched, U.S. population norms. We assessed fatigue and age in a sample of
individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), postpolio syndrome (PPS), multiple
sclerosis (MS), and muscular dystrophy (MD). DESIGN: This study used survey
responses and published age cohort means for fatigue to test the hypothesis that
fatigue would be higher in each of 4 clinical samples than the U.S. population
norm. We also hypothesized that, for clinical samples, the mean fatigue reported
within age cohorts would be higher than the general U.S. population norms for
those age ranges derived in the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information
System (PROMIS). SETTING: Survey responses were collected from participants in
the Washington state area. PARTICIPANTS: Participants (N=1836) were persons with
MD (n=337), MS (n=580), Post-polio (n=441), and SCI (n=478). INTERVENTIONS: Not
applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: PROMIS Depression Short Form. RESULTS:
Individuals with disabilities reported higher levels of fatigue than the
normative PROMIS population. In the normative population, self-reported fatigue
was substantially lower in age cohorts from middle age to retirement age.
However, individuals with disabilities did not demonstrate this age cohort
effect. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with disabilities are not only at greater risk
to experience fatigue, but this risk, relative to normative values, increases
with age. More research is needed to determine the specific negative impact of
fatigue symptoms on functioning in individuals with disabilities as they age.
CI - Copyright (c) 2011 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS