Evaluating fatigue in patients recovering from COVID-19: validation of the fatigue severity scale and single item screening questions

• DOI: 10.1186/s12955-022-02082-x
• Publication Date: 2022-12-27T05:02:54Z
• Authors: Hiten Naik; Selena Shao; Karen C. Tran; Alyson W. Wong; James A. Russell; Esther Khor; Luis Nacul; R. Jane McKay; Christopher Carlsten; Christopher J. Ry...; Adeera Levin
• Keywords: Ceiling effect; Depression

Fatigue is a common symptom in hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients recovering from COVID-19, but no fatigue measurement scales or questions have been validated these populations. The objective of this study was to perform validity assessments the severity scale (FSS) two single-item screening (SISQs) for COVID-19.We examined ≥ 28 days after their first SARS-CoV-2 infection who were acute illness, as well referred persistent symptoms. Patients completed questionnaires through 1 4 Post COVID-19 Recovery Clinics British Columbia, Canada. Construct assessed by comparing FSS scores quality life depression measures. Two SISQs evaluated based on ability classify (FSS score 4).Questionnaires returned 548 546 patients, with computable 96.4% 98.2% respectively. Cronbach's alpha 0.96 both groups. mean ± SD 4.4 1.8 5.2 1.6 group, 62.5% 78.9% classified fatigued. Ceiling effects 7.6% 16.1% patients. negatively correlated EQ-5D groups (Spearman's rho - 0.6 non-hospitalized; p < 0.001) higher among positive PHQ-2 screen (5.4 vs. 4.0 5.9 4.9 0.001). An SISQ asking whether there "fatigue present" had sensitivity 70.6% 83.2% patients; "always feeling tired" SISQ, 70.5% 89.6% respectively.Fatigue severe post assessment. Overall, suitable measuring excellent data quality, strong internal consistency, construct validity. However, ceiling may be limitation group. good identifying clinically relevant only moderate indicating that more false negatives.