Abstract

PURPOSE
Fatigue is a common problem in Parkinson's disease (PD), affecting 30~65% of patients with that diagnosis. Only recently has fatigue been recognized as an important clinical feature of PD. The aim of this study was to investigate the level of fatigue and related factors in patients with PD.
METHODS
Between March 1, and September, 30, 2010, a sample of 181 PD patients agreed to be interviewed.
RESULTS
The female patients' PFS (Parkinson Fatigue Scale) score was higher than those of the male patients. Household income and having a Job were significantly correlated with the PFS scores. Among the disease characteristics, motor fluctuations, dyskinesia and modified Hoehn and Yahr stage were significantly correlated with the PFS scores. On stepwise regression analysis, the most important factors related to the PFS scores were depression and sleep disturbance.
CONCLUSION
Fatigue in patients with PD was associated with many factors and strongly associated with depression and sleep disturbance. Fatigue is a multidimensional construct; therefore, multidimensional strategies for relieving specific aspects of fatigue are needed.