Prevalence of fatigue, pain, and affective disorders in adults with duchenne muscular dystrophy and their associations with quality of life.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the prevalence of fatigue, pain, anxiety, and depression in adults with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), and to analyze their relationship with health-related quality of life.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Home of participants.

PARTICIPANTS

Adults (N=80) with DMD.

INTERVENTIONS

Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Fatigue was assessed with the Fatigue Severity Scale; pain with 1 item of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey and by interview; and anxiety and depression by using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Health-related quality of life was assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale-Brief Version. Associations between these conditions and quality of life were assessed by means of univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

Symptoms of fatigue (40.5%), pain (73.4%), anxiety (24%), and depression (19%) were frequently found. Individuals often had multiple conditions. Fatigue was related to overall quality of life and to the quality-of-life domains of physical health and environment; anxiety was related to the psychological domain.

CONCLUSIONS

Fatigue, pain, anxiety, and depression, potentially treatable symptoms, occur frequently in adults with DMD and significantly influence health-related quality of life.