Factors Related to Fatigue in Patients With Cirrhosis Before and After Liver Transplantation

BACKGROUND & AIMS: We performed a prospective study to evaluate fatigue and identify potential determinants among patients with cirrhosis. We also studied the effects of liver transplantation on fatigue in these patients. METHODS: A total of 108 patients with cirrhosis being evaluated before liver transplantation completed the fatigue impact scale (FIS), the hospital anxiety and depression (HAD) scale, and the short-form 36 (SF-36). Results were compared with controls from the general population. Fasting serum levels of insulin and glucose were measured in all patients. Levels of serum thyrotropin, free T-3 and T-4, cortisol, free testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, estradiol, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were measured in a subgroup of 80 patients. Transplant recipients were followed for 1 year. RESULTS: Compared with controls, patients with cirrhosis had more pronounced fatigue, on the basis of higher FIS domain and total scores (P<.05), which were related to all SF-36 domains (r=-0.44 to -0.77, P<.001). All FIS scores improved significantly after liver transplantation, although physical fatigue levels remained higher than in controls (P<.05). In multivariate analysis, pretransplant FIS scores were only related to depression, anxiety, cirrhosis severity, and low serum levels of cortisol (P<.05 for all). Impaired renal function and anemia were independent predictors of physical fatigue (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: Fatigue is common among patients with cirrhosis and associated with impaired quality of life. Psychological distress, severity of cirrhosis, and low levels of cortisol determine general fatigue, whereas anemia and impaired renal function also contribute to physical fatigue. Physical fatigue remains of concern for patients who have received liver transplants for cirrhosis.