PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Michael Fleischer AU - Andreas Hinz AU - Elmar Brähler AU - Hubert Wirtz AU - Andrea Bosse-Henck TI - Factors Associated With Fatigue in Sarcoidosis AID - 10.4187/respcare.02080 DP - 2014 Jul 01 TA - Respiratory Care PG - 1086--1094 VI - 59 IP - 7 4099 - http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/59/7/1086.short 4100 - http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/59/7/1086.full AB - BACKGROUND: Fatigue is a frequent symptom of patients with sarcoidosis. The origin of fatigue associated with sarcoidosis is unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of affected organs, medication, and comorbidity on fatigue related to sarcoidosis. METHOD: In collaboration with the German Sarcoidosis Society, a sample of 1,197 subjects diagnosed with sarcoidosis was examined. The participants completed a questionnaire that contained the Fatigue Assessment Scale and the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory. RESULTS: In this study, muscles, bones, and nerves were most strongly associated with fatigue. Patients receiving prednisolone showed heightened fatigue levels. However, the association between the duration of prednisolone therapy and fatigue was weak. The concomitant diseases, pulmonary hypertension and sleep apnea, showed the greatest impact elevating fatigue (effect sizes d > 0.50). In the combined regression analysis, comorbidity was the most important predictor of fatigue. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to consider that multiple clinical factors, especially comorbidities, contribute to the high degrees of fatigue in sarcoidosis.