The prevalence and related factors of fatigue in patients with COPD: a systematic review

Zjala Ebadi*, Yvonne M. J. Goertz, Maarten Van Herck, Daisy J. A. Janssen, Martijn A. Spruit, Chris Burtin, Melissa S. Y. Thong, Jean Muris, Jacqueline Otker, Milou Looijmans, Christel Vlasblom, Joelle Bastiaansen, Judith Prins, Emiel F. M. Wouters, Jan H. Vercoulen, Jeannette B. Peters

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal(Systematic) Review article peer-review

Abstract

Background Fatigue is a distressing symptom in patients with COPD. Little is known about the factors that contribute to fatigue in COPD. This review summarises existing knowledge on the prevalence of fatigue, factors related to fatigue and the instruments most commonly used to assess fatigue in COPD.

Methods Pubmed, PsycINFO, EMBASE, Cochrane and CINAHL databases were searched for studies from inception up to 7 January 2020 using the medical subject headings "COPD" and "Fatigue". Studies were reviewed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines.

Results 196 studies were evaluated. The prevalence of fatigue ranged from 17-95%. Age (r=-0.23 to r=0.27), sex (r=0.11), marital status (r=-0.096), dyspnoea (r=0.13 to r=0.78), forced expiatory volume in 1 s % predicted (r=-0.55 to r=-0.076), number of exacerbations (r=0.27 to r= . 0.38), number of comorbidities (r=0.10), number of medications (r=0.35), anxiety (r=0.36 to r=0.61), depression (r=0.41 to r=0.66), muscle strength (r=-0.78 to r=-0.45), functional capacity (r=-0.77 to r=-0.14) and quality of life (r=0.48 to r=0.77) showed significant associations with fatigue.

Conclusions Fatigue is a prevalent symptom in patients with COPD. Multiple physical and psychological factors seem to be associated with fatigue. Future studies are needed to evaluate these underlying factors in integral analyses in samples of patients with COPD.

Original languageEnglish
Article number200298
Number of pages16
JournalEuropean Respiratory Review
Volume30
Issue number160
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 30 Jun 2021

Keywords

  • OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY-DISEASE
  • QUALITY-OF-LIFE
  • CHRONIC RESPIRATORY-DISEASE
  • PSYCHOMETRIC QUALITIES
  • SUBJECTIVE FATIGUE
  • MULTIPLE SYMPTOMS
  • FUNCTIONAL STATUS
  • PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY
  • SEVERITY SCALE
  • HEALTH-STATUS

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