Fatigue, sleep disturbance hound patients with polymyalgia rheumatica

In addition to the pain and stiffness that polymyalgia rheumatic (PMR) brings, patients are also burdened by persistent fatigue and sleep disturbance, reveals a study.

Higher adiposity, psychological comorbidity, and PMR disease activity are some of the factors that are significantly associated with fatigue.

The study included 36 participants with PMR and 32 controls. Disease activity was low at both the 3- and 18-month visits.

A substantially greater proportion of patients with PMR had severe fatigue at baseline and follow-up compared with control participants (baseline and follow-up: 36 percent and 35 percent vs 3 percent and 3 percent). More patients with PMR also experienced poor sleep quality than controls at both timepoints (77 percent and 84 percent vs 56 percent and 56 percent).

Severe fatigue was associated with higher BMI and fat mass index, anxiety, depression, PMR Activity Score, inflammatory markers, pain, and stiffness. No significant associations with poor sleep were seen.

The investigators recruited patients who met the 2012 European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology/American College of Rheumatology classification criteria for PMR were prospectively recruited, along with matched controls. They assessed participants 3 months after the initiation of glucocorticoids and 18 months later.

The Bristol Rheumatoid Arthritis Fatigue Multidimensional Questionnaire and the 36-item Short Form Health Survey vitality scale were used to measure fatigue. On the other hand, sleep was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.

The investigators also obtained data on PMR disease activity, depression, anxiety, and physical function status. All participants underwent body composition by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and physical function testing.