Fatigue Assessment Using FACIT-F Scale in Spondyloarthropathy Patients and its Correlation with BASDAI and BASFI Scores

Objective: To measure fatigue in axial spondyloarthropathy patients and find its correlation with the disease activity measures.<br />Study Design: Cross-sectional, descriptive study.<br />Place and Duration of the Study: Rheumatology Unit, Federal Government Polyclinic Hospital, from November 2021 to May 2022.<br />Methodology: This study included 45 patients fulfilling the ASAS criteria for spondyloarthropathy. Bathankylosing spondylitis disease activity (BASDAI), Bath ankylosing spondylitis functional index (BASFI), and functional assessment of chronic illness therapy- fatigue (FACIT-F) scores were measured for each patient.<br />Results: In this study, there were 9 (20%) female patients and 36 (80%) male patients. There were 39 (86.7%) patients who had ankylosing spondylitis, 4 (8.9%) had axial spondyloarthropathy with peripheral arthritis and 2 (4.4%) had enthesitis-related juvenile idiopathic arthritis. The mean duration of the disease was 5.45 +/- 4.19 years. Active disease with a BASDAI score of >= 4 was found in 16 (35.6%) patients while 29 (64.4%) had a BASDAI score <4. Severe fatigue with a FACIT-F score of <30 was found in 31 (68.9%) of the patients while less fatigue with FACIT-F score >30 was found in 14 (31.1%). The mean BASFI score of the cohort was 3.23 +/- 2.01. Spearman's rho correlation analysis showed a significant strong correlation between the FACIT-F score, BASDAI and BASFI scores (p<0.001).<br />Conclusion: Patients with active disease and higher BASFI scores had a lower FACIT-F score suggesting more fatigue, thus correlating with the disease activity.