Background. Fatigue is a common symptom in Family Medicine and it has many
associated factors. The Arabian Gulf provides a unique setting for studying
these factors, in particular the UAE where rapid development has been a pr
ominent feature.
Objectives. The aim of the study was to sample a group of GP attenders and
examine the factors which were associated with fatigue in the UAE.
Methods. A fatigue scale, psychological questionnaire, detailed history, ph
ysical examination and laboratory testing were administered to a sample of
attenders at a Family Medicine clinic.
Results. Fatigue was more prevalent than in western studies (males 34.0%, f
emales 38.2%). It was strongly associated with anxiety, especially in young
er adults, and it has been recognized that rapid social change is felt most
acutely in young adults and adolescents. Depression in females was a Iso a
factor. Lack of exercise, obesity and illiteracy played a minor role in th
e severity of fatigue.
Conclusions. Fatigue appears to be a cultural 'idiom of distress', a way of
expressing anxiety or depression in a rapidly changing society.