Predictors of Fatigue in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

The fatigue is one of the most common complications in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) which can affect all aspects of their lives and caused many problems. The aim of this study was to determine predictors of fatigue among these patients.
This descriptive-analytical study was don among 70 patients with COPD selected by convenience sampling method from Raze Hospital of Rasht, in 2015. Demographic and multidimensional fatigue inventory questionnaires (Including five dimensions: covering General Fatigue (GF), Physical Fatigue (PF), Reduced Activity (RA), Reduced Motivation (RM) and Mental Fatigue (MF)) were completed by them. Descriptive and inferential statistics were done by SPSS version 19.
The age average of the patients was 70.5±11.07 years. The majority of patients were male, illiterate and farmers. The highest and the lowest mean score were seen in physical and mental dimensions respectively. Using multiple regression model, age (P=0.001) and heart disease (P=0.042) are considered as predictors of fatigue score which explained 49% of the variability in fatigue score (R2=0.49). Age and heart disease were predictors of general fatigue (R2=0.39). Predictor of physical fatigue (R2=0.27), decreased activity (R2=0.29) and decreased motivation (R2=0.32) was age. Also predictors of mental fatigue were heart disease and the number hospitalizations (R2=0.41).
Besides health care and nursing interventions, it is important to take into account demographic factors and morbidities and accordingly have psychological interventions based on comprehensive management fatigue in patients with COPD.