Prevalence, intensity and impact of fatigue in patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis

• Grant number: 21/13332-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2022
• End date: December 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Samuel Katsuyuki Shinjo
• Grantee: Sarah Luiza Gomes da Silva
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is a primary systemic vasculitis associated with the anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA), characterized by the classic triad of involvement of the upper and lower airways, and kidneys. Similar to other systemic rheumatic diseases, patients with GPA have, among their systemic symptoms, fatigue. Moreover, some individuals, even after disease activity remission, may persist with this fatigue and, consequently, present sleep disturbances, and pain, among other symptoms, similar to that found in primary chronic fatigue. In addition, this fatigue may lead to impairment in the ability to perform activities of daily living and the quality of life. Therefore, the analysis of prevalence can provide an increase in the knowledge focus regarding secondary chronic fatigue, promote the improvement of the quality of life of patients with GPA, improve hospital follow-up, expand the search for interventions and guidelines that make it possible to reduce expenses with costly and ineffective treatments for this symptom. However, to date, there are few studies that have evaluated the prevalence, intensity, and impact of fatigue on the reduction of activities of daily living in patients with GPA, which motivated us to carry out this study. (AU)