Article

This study examines the prevalence of pain, fatigue, imbalance, memory
impairment, and vision loss in persons with myotonic and facioscapulohumeral
dystrophy and their association with functioning. DESIGN: A survey (N = 170)
included measures of severity (0-10 scales) and course of these symptoms as well
as measures of social integration, home competency, mental health, and productive
activity. Descriptive and regression analyses examined the associations between
symptoms and functioning. RESULTS: Fatigue (91%), imbalance (82%), and pain (77%)
were the most commonly reported. The most severe symptom was fatigue (mean +/- SD
severity, 5.14 +/- 2.81), followed by imbalance (4.95 +/- 3.25). Symptoms were
most likely to stay the same or worsen since onset. Controlling for potential
medical and demographic confounds, symptoms were associated with 17% of the
mental health variance, 10% of home competency, 10% of social integration, 16% of
productive activity for myotonic dystrophy type 1, and 12% of productive activity
for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. CONCLUSIONS: Pain, fatigue, and
imbalance are common in persons with muscular dystrophy. Interventions may be
useful to mitigate their impact on functioning. Further research should examine
these relationships to guide clinical practices.

Langue : ANGLAIS