Fatigue and its correlation with anxiety and depression in patients with multiple sclerosis in China

BackgroundMultiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, progressive, immune-mediated disease of the central nervous system. Fatigue is a common and disabling symptom in patients with MS (PwMS). Some psychological factors, such as depression, stress, and anxiety, also appear to be related to these issues.Obj...

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Main Authors: Han Wang, Rongrong Wang, Runze Zhao, Gaopan Zhang, Guoxun Zhang, Xiongfei Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Neurology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1604540/full
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author Han Wang
Han Wang
Rongrong Wang
Rongrong Wang
Runze Zhao
Gaopan Zhang
Gaopan Zhang
Guoxun Zhang
Xiongfei Zhao
author_facet Han Wang
Han Wang
Rongrong Wang
Rongrong Wang
Runze Zhao
Gaopan Zhang
Gaopan Zhang
Guoxun Zhang
Xiongfei Zhao
author_sort Han Wang
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundMultiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, progressive, immune-mediated disease of the central nervous system. Fatigue is a common and disabling symptom in patients with MS (PwMS). Some psychological factors, such as depression, stress, and anxiety, also appear to be related to these issues.ObjectivesThe study aimed to investigate the fatigue conditions of PwMS in China and its influencing factors, as well as to explore the correlation between fatigue with anxiety and depression.MethodsThis study was a cross-sectional study conducted through the Internet, which collected demographic characteristics, clinical data, Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II).ResultsA total of 366 PwMS were included in this study. MFIS showed a median fatigue total score of 40.0 (interquartile range [IQR] 26.0–52.0), with 55.7% (n = 204) of patients experiencing fatigue. The scores on MFIS were positively correlated with age, disease duration, BAI score, and BDI-II score.ConclusionThe prevalence of fatigue among Chinese PwMS is 55.7%. Age, education, employment, marital status, type of disease, and disease duration are all factors influencing the fatigue rate in PwMS. Fatigue in PwMS exhibit strong positive correlations with depression and anxiety.
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spelling doaj-art-262de0bbee544e14b4b6396d2951581d2025-08-20T03:33:07ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neurology1664-22952025-07-011610.3389/fneur.2025.16045401604540Fatigue and its correlation with anxiety and depression in patients with multiple sclerosis in ChinaHan Wang0Han Wang1Rongrong Wang2Rongrong Wang3Runze Zhao4Gaopan Zhang5Gaopan Zhang6Guoxun Zhang7Xiongfei Zhao8Department of Neurology, Yan'an University Medical College No. 3 Affiliated Hospital, Xianyang, ChinaYan'an University Medical College, Yan'an, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Yan'an University Medical College No. 3 Affiliated Hospital, Xianyang, ChinaYan'an University Medical College, Yan'an, ChinaDepartment of Ophthalmology, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Yan'an University Medical College No. 3 Affiliated Hospital, Xianyang, ChinaYan'an University Medical College, Yan'an, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Yan'an University Medical College No. 3 Affiliated Hospital, Xianyang, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Yan'an University Medical College No. 3 Affiliated Hospital, Xianyang, ChinaBackgroundMultiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, progressive, immune-mediated disease of the central nervous system. Fatigue is a common and disabling symptom in patients with MS (PwMS). Some psychological factors, such as depression, stress, and anxiety, also appear to be related to these issues.ObjectivesThe study aimed to investigate the fatigue conditions of PwMS in China and its influencing factors, as well as to explore the correlation between fatigue with anxiety and depression.MethodsThis study was a cross-sectional study conducted through the Internet, which collected demographic characteristics, clinical data, Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II).ResultsA total of 366 PwMS were included in this study. MFIS showed a median fatigue total score of 40.0 (interquartile range [IQR] 26.0–52.0), with 55.7% (n = 204) of patients experiencing fatigue. The scores on MFIS were positively correlated with age, disease duration, BAI score, and BDI-II score.ConclusionThe prevalence of fatigue among Chinese PwMS is 55.7%. Age, education, employment, marital status, type of disease, and disease duration are all factors influencing the fatigue rate in PwMS. Fatigue in PwMS exhibit strong positive correlations with depression and anxiety.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1604540/fullmultiple sclerosisepidemiologyfatigueanxietydepression
spellingShingle Han Wang
Han Wang
Rongrong Wang
Rongrong Wang
Runze Zhao
Gaopan Zhang
Gaopan Zhang
Guoxun Zhang
Xiongfei Zhao
Fatigue and its correlation with anxiety and depression in patients with multiple sclerosis in China
Frontiers in Neurology
multiple sclerosis
epidemiology
fatigue
anxiety
depression
title Fatigue and its correlation with anxiety and depression in patients with multiple sclerosis in China
title_full Fatigue and its correlation with anxiety and depression in patients with multiple sclerosis in China
title_fullStr Fatigue and its correlation with anxiety and depression in patients with multiple sclerosis in China
title_full_unstemmed Fatigue and its correlation with anxiety and depression in patients with multiple sclerosis in China
title_short Fatigue and its correlation with anxiety and depression in patients with multiple sclerosis in China
title_sort fatigue and its correlation with anxiety and depression in patients with multiple sclerosis in china
topic multiple sclerosis
epidemiology
fatigue
anxiety
depression
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1604540/full
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