Assessment of fatigue in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and analysis of its related factors / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate if the single item fatigue question of the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index(BASDAI) is appropriate for measuring fatigue in patients with ankylosing spondylitis(AS), and to identify factors that influence fatigue in these patients. Methods A total of 93 patients with ankylosing spondylitis were recruited. Patients completed questionnaires on disease activity(BASDAI), functional ability[Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index(BASFI)], the short form McGill Pain Questionnaire and 10 cm visual analogue scale(VAS) for sleep disturbance. Reliability was assessed with intraclass correlation coefficients. The patients were then dichotomized into a F+group (eg, fatigue is the major symptom) if the BASDAI fatigue scale was ≥5.0 and a F-group(eg, fatigue is the minor symptom) if the fatigue score was