In a metasynthesis of 34 qualitative studies written in the last 5 years, describing fatigue in patients with heart failure, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic kidney disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, investigators sought to understand the nature and experiences of fatigue. Fatigue was characterized by severe energy depletion and had negative impacts on patients’ lives, causing associated exacerbating symptoms. The authors concluded that fatigue is commonly misunderstood and inadequately acknowledged.
Link: J Pain Symptom Manage (6/2020)