Is the impact of fatigue related to walking capacity and perceived ability in persons with multiple sclerosis? A multicenter study

• Published in: Journal of the neurological sciences 2018-04, Vol.387, p.179-186
• Main Authors: Dalgas, U., Langeskov-Christensen, M., Skjerbæk, A., Jensen, E., Baert, I., Romberg, A., Santoyo Medina, C., Gebara, B., Maertens de Noordhout, B., Knuts, K., Béthoux, F., Rasova, K., Severijns, D., Bibby, B.M., Kalron, A., Norman, B., Van Geel, F., Wens, I., Feys, P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Fatigue; Multiple sclerosis; Walking capacity
• ISSN: 0022-510X; 1878-5883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2018.02.026

The relationship between fatigue impact and walking capacity and perceived ability in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is inconclusive in the existing literature. A better understanding might guide new treatment avenues for fatigue and/or walking capacity in patients with MS. To investigate the relationship between the subjective impact of fatigue and objective walking capacity as well as subjective walking ability in MS patients. A cross-sectional multicenter study design was applied. Ambulatory MS patients (n = 189, age: 47.6 ± 10.5 years; gender: 115/74 women/men; Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS): 4.1 ± 1.8 [range: 0–6.5]) were tested at 11 sites. Objective tests of walking capacity included short walking tests (Timed 25-Foot Walk (T25FW), 10-Metre Walk Test (10mWT) at usual and fastest speed and the timed up and go (TUG)), and long walking tests (2- and 6-Minute Walk Tests (MWT). Subjective walking ability was tested applying the Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale-12 (MSWS-12). Fatigue impact was measured by the self-reported modified fatigue impact scale (MFIS) consisting of a total score (MFIStotal) and three subscales (MFISphysical, MFIScognitive and MFISpsychosocial). Uni- and multivariate regression analysis were performed to evaluate the relation between walking and fatigue impact. MFIStotal was negatively related with long (6MWT, r = −0.14, p = 0.05) and short composite (TUG, r = −0.22, p = 0.003) walking measures. MFISphysical showed a significant albeit weak relationship to walking speed in all walking capacity tests (r = −0.22 to −0.33, p