Occurrence and predictors of the fatigue in high-grade glioma patients

Neurol Sci. 2015 Aug;36(8):1363-9. doi: 10.1007/s10072-015-2111-7. Epub 2015 Feb 20.

Abstract

A better knowledge of the fatigue could be of the greatest importance for the high-grade glioma (HGG) patients, who are a unique and vulnerable population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence and the predictors of the fatigue in HGG patients, using a specific fatigue scale. The study was designed as a cross-sectional study. The study population included sixty-seven consecutive outpatients with HGG. We used these measures: Brief Fatigue Inventory, Karnofsky Performance Scale, Functional Independence Measure, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and Psychological Distress Inventory and SF-36, EORTC QLQ-30 and EORTC QLQ-BN20 for quality of life (QoL). Sixteen out of sixty-seven (23.9 %) patients were affected by Anaplastic Astrocytoma and 51/67 (76.1 %) by Glioblastoma Multiforme. About one-third (36.2 %) of patients had a clinically relevant fatigue (Brief Fatigue Inventory ≥3). In regression analysis, physical and mental aspects of QoL were statistically significant related with fatigue (p < 0.01 and p < 0.02, respectively). Our data underlined the relevant occurrence of fatigue in HGG patients and support the development of further studies exploring a tailored rehabilitation program.

MeSH terms

  • Activities of Daily Living
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Brain Neoplasms / complications*
  • Brain Neoplasms / psychology*
  • Fatigue / diagnosis*
  • Fatigue / etiology*
  • Female
  • Glioma / complications*
  • Glioma / psychology*
  • Health Status
  • Humans
  • Karnofsky Performance Status
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Motor Activity
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Quality of Life
  • Regression Analysis
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Young Adult