Background: The Pittsburgh Fatigability Scale (PFS) is the only validated scale for measuring perceived fatigability in older adults.
Aims: We validated the PFS Spanish version by assessing convergent validity with respect to several measures of physical performance, physical activity, physical function and disability.
Methods: A cross-sectional validation study of 79 community-dwelling older adults aged 70 and older from Barcelona, Spain was included. Translation-retrotranslation was performed. Convergent validity was assessed in relation to physical activity and performance measurements, and analyzed with Spearman correlation coefficients, a linear trend test and non-linear regression. We also assessed the discriminant validity of the PFS physical score between participants with different physical activity and performance levels.
Results: Higher PFS physical scores were inversely associated with the Short Physical Performance Battery (r = - 0.5, p < 0.001) and weak to moderately correlated with gait speed (r = 0.38, p = 0.001), and self-reported weekly walking time (r = 0.24, p = 0.035).
Conclusion: The PFS is a novel, brief instrument to assess fatigability in Spanish-speaking older adults, with good convergent validity against physical performance measurements. Thus, the PFS can be used in Spanish-speaking populations.
Keywords: Fatigability; Fatigue; Spanish version; Validity.