Degree
Master of Science
Program
Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Supervisor
Dr. Craig Campbell
Abstract
Fatigue was recently reported to be the largest predictor of poor health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in children and adolescents with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The objectives of this thesis were to describe fatigue from patients’ and parents’ perspectives and to explore associations of patient characteristics with fatigue in children and adolescents with DMD using a multicentre cross-sectional study design. Eligible patients and their parents were identified via the Canadian Neuromuscular Disease Registry and received mailed paper questionnaires. Children and adolescents with DMD experienced greater fatigue compared to healthy controls from published data. Fatigue was a significant issue in children and adolescents with DMD across all disease stages. Sleep disturbance symptoms, depressive symptoms and functional ability were associated with fatigue. Physical activity level was not associated with fatigue. These findings warrant future research aimed at understanding the determinants of fatigue and developing therapeutic strategies to reduce fatigue and improve HRQOL.
Recommended Citation
El-Aloul, Basmah, "Fatigue in Children and Adolescents with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy" (2017). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 4626.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/4626