Fatigue measured with the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory in a population of intensive care patients at the post-intensive care clinic: A prospective longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVES: Fatigue is a common symptom in former intensive care unit patients. Earlier research suggests that it is a lasting problem. This study aimed to further investigate the incidence of fatigue through the Multidimensional fatigue inventory (MFI-20) up to three years post intensive care.

METHOD/SAMPLE: In this prospective longitudinal study 56 former patients accepted inclusion and 55 patients filled out the questionnaire MFI-20 on one, two or three occasions; 49 at the visit at the post intensive care clinic, 21 after one year and 29 at three years after discharge from intensive care. MFI-20 can be interpreted through its total score or divided into five sub scores: general fatigue, physical fatigue, reduced activity, reduced motivation and mental fatigue. Baseline characteristics were collected, and statistical significance was measured with the help of SPSS software.

RESULTS: The median ages for the three time points were 59, 61 and 62 respectively. There were more men in each group; 59, 57 and 62 %, but there were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the groups. Based on the total fatigue score 67 % (n = 33) had severe fatigue 2-9 months after intensive care. The incidence of severe fatigue for one and three years was 48 % (n = 10) and 45 % (n = 13). Younger patients had significantly higher fatigue scores in general fatigue, reduced motivation and total score at the first two time points. After one year they also had significantly higher scores in the reduced activity subscale. Women had significantly higher fatigue scores than men in mental fatigue.

CONCLUSIONS: Fatigue is a common symptom in intensive care patients up to three years post intensive care. Younger patients have higher fatigue scores than older patients up to one year after intensive care.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE: Healthcare professionals in hospitals and in out-patient care need knowledge about fatigue in former critically ill patients in order to support the management of their fatigue.