Importance of fatigue measurement in sarcoidosis patients

Fatigue is recognized as one of the most prominent symptom in sarcoidosis patients. In the cross-sectional study in 189 biopsy proven sarcoidosis patients (138 female) with average disease duration of 14±8 years, we evaluated the relationship between the fatigue severity and their health status and pulmonary function tests. Fatigue was measured by standardized Fatigue Scale, which contains 14 items, with four response options (the higher the score, the more severe fatigue). Scale distinguishes mental fatigue, physical fatigue, and it is also possible to calculate a total fatigue score. Two health status questionnaires were administered: respiratory specific – the St Georges Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and generic – the 15D. Total SGRQ and 15D scores, as well as the scores for individual domains of SGRQ, were calculated for each patient. The pulmonary function was determined by means of spirometry and body-plethysmography. Pearson9s coefficient of linear correlation revealed a statistically highly significant correlation (p 1 (L). We can conclude that fatigue should be measured in sarcoidosis, since it isn9t possible to assess its severity according to the objective disease outcomes, like pulmonary function tests. The health status and fatigue are two similar, but different aspects of sarcoidosis. All applied instruments demonstrated good measurement properties.