Fatigue, depression scores may predict functional ability in patients with Sjögren’s syndrome

Levels of fatigue and depression, followed by anxiety and pain, were predictive of a reduction in overall quality of life, the ability to perform daily activities and the ability to take on life roles by patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome, according to recently presented research.

For the study, a group of 149 patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) diagnosed using the American-European Consensus Criteria was recruited from 12 sites in England. Patients were administered the Short Form 36 (SF-36) health questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire, and were asked to identify pain, fatigue, mental fatigue and dryness on a separate VAS.

Patients with pSS had significantly lower than normative scores for all domains except for general health domain. Each of the SF-36 domains — including physical functioning, role physical, bodily pain, vitality, social functioning, role emotional and mental health — were associated with anxiety, depression, cognitive failures, mental fatigue, pain, fatigue and dryness.

Poorer scores in the role physical and social functioning domains of the SF-36 were associated with fatigue and depression, and fatigue was predictive of bodily pain. Poor physical functioning was independently predicted by pain. Depression and pain independently predicted poor scores in the vitality and general health domains, while fatigue, anxiety and depression were predictive of role emotional scores.

The researchers concluded that addressing fatigue, depression, anxiety and pain could improve the quality of life for patients with pSS. - by Shirley Pulawski

Reference:

Hackett K, et al. Paper #2282. Presented at: American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting; Nov. 7-11, 2015; San Francisco.

Disclosures: Hackett reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the full study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.