Evaluation of different fatigue scales in assessment of fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis (P1.417)

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of different fatigue scales in patients with relapsing-remitting (RR)MS. Background: Fatigue is a common and extremely disabling symptom in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) for which there are no adequate biomarkers. The most commonly used tool in the evaluation of fatigue are different rating scales, among which psychometrically most robust so far is Neurology Fatigue Index (NFI). Design/Methods: Twenty-five patients with RRMS, mean age of 32.04 ±7.04, and twenty-seven healthy controls (HC), mean age of 30.04 ±4.08, were enrolled in this study. Beck depression scale and Epworth Sleepiness Scale were obtained to exclude subjects with depression or sleep disorders. Each subject fulfilled following fatigue rating scales: NFI, Fatigue Severitiy Scale-9 (FSS-9) and Modified Fatigue Severity Scale (MFIS). Rasch modification of FSS-9 and MFIS scales was performed as well. Correlations between different scales and differences between MS patients and HC were analyzed. Results: For the group of patients, there was statistically significant correlation between all used fatigue scales (all p-values 19 or FSS>36 or MFIS>38). According to absolute score values, MS patients had higher values in comparison with healthy controls for NFI, MFIS and Rasch MFIS (10 vs. 3, p Conclusions: Different fatigue scales showed similar trend of correlation both in MS and HC group, indicating that higher values in different scales are valuable markers of fatigue for MS patients. Disclosure: Dr. Vukorepa has nothing to disclose. Dr. Gabelic has nothing to disclose. Dr. Krbot Skoric has nothing to disclose. Dr. Dapic has nothing to disclose. Dr. Habek has nothing to disclose.