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The assessment of fatigue and sleep quality among children and adolescents with familial Mediterranean fever: A case-control and correlation study

Çağla İncesu, G. Kayaalp, F. Demirkan, Oya Köker, F. Çakmak, Özlem Akgün, N. Ayaz, Rukiye Eker Ömeroğlu

European Journal of Pediatrics, 2024

7 citations

Abstract

To evaluate the sleep quality and fatigue levels in children with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) in comparison to healthy children. The Pediatric Quality of Life Multidimensional Fatigue Scale (PedsQL-MFS) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were the instruments utilized to assess fatigue and sleep quality in children with FMF and controls, respectively. Spearman’s rank coefficient was decisive in determining the association between patient-reported outcome measures and disease-related features. Two hundred twenty-five (59.3% female) patients and 182 (51.6% female) healthy counterparts were enrolled in the study. In PSQI, where high scores indicate sleep disturbance, the median score was significantly higher in the patient group (5; 3–6) than the control group (3; 2–4) (p 0.05). Conclusion: High disease activity has a significant negative impact on the sleep quality and fatigue levels of patients with FMF. This study emphasizes the importance of assessing fatigue and sleep quality with objective outcome tools periodically in FMF patients throughout the disease course. What is Known: • Fatigue is a common matter that often accompanies rheumatic diseases and causes disability. • Chronic rheumatic diseases often experience poor sleep quality. What is New: • In high correlation with the disease severity of familial Mediterranean fever, sleep quality decreases and fatigue level increases significantly. • In familial Mediterranean fever patients, a negative…

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Evidence Hub reads this as a case-control, done in people. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause.

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