PATIENTS WITH FATIGUE IN GENERAL-PRACTICE - A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY

Objective-To describe the characteristics of patients attending their general practitioners and complaining of fatigue or being ''tired all the time.'' Design-Prospective study of cohort aged 16 years and older with follow up at two weeks and by questionnaires at two and six mont hs. Subjects-220 patients (164 women) with mean age 43 years and an ag e-sex matched comparison group. Settings-Doctors and patients in four practices in Lancashire, Mid Glamorgan, Suffolk, and Surrey. Main outc ome measure-General clinical data, results from standard group of labo ratory tests, fatigue questionnaire, and 12 item general health questi onnaire. Results-Over twice as many patients with fatigue had high sco res on the health questionnaire compared with the comparison group (15 6 (75%) v 69 (34%)). Results of laboratory tests were abnormal and con tributed to the diagnosis in 19 patients. 59 out of 102 patients who r esponded had high fatigue scores six months later. Patients with persi stent fatigue were more likely to have a history of anxiety or depress ion and to have had fatigue for more than three months on entry to the study. Conclusions-Women are particularly at risk of fatigue. The out come is better if patients have had symptoms for three months or less or there is no history of emotional illness.