CHRONIC FATIGUE IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC VIRAL HEPATITIS

Abstract

The aim of this prospective observational study was to assess the relationship between chronic fatigue, etiology of disease, age, gender, duration of disease, stage of liver fibrosis and degree of inflammation in patients with chronic viral hepatitis. 233 patients with chronic viral hepatitis at the Infectious Diseases Hospital of Shymkent City and the Regional Hepatological Center of Shymkent City were enrolled between March 2021 and January 2022. All patients were surveyed on a Fatigue Severity Score Scale (FSS) to confirm the presence of chronic fatigue. A total score of 4 or higher indicates the presence of chronic fatigue. Clinical data included age, gender, etiology of disease, duration of disease, stage of liver fibrosis, serum ALT levels and serum AST levels. Subsequent multiple regression analysis showed that older age (p <0.000), gender (female) (p <0.058) and fibrosis stage (p <0.000) were the variables most closely associated with chronic fatigue. The early identification of chronic fatigue is necessary due to the high risk of progression to the stage of severe cognitive deficit.

Keywords

• chronic viral hepatitis
• fibrosis
• cognitive
• fatigue severity scale
• chronic fatigue