Use of health services in people with multiple sclerosis with and without fatigue

Objective

To explore and compare the use of health services in peoplewith multiple sclerosis (MS) with and without fatigue.

Methods

Over a period of 30 months, the use of health servicesin 48 MS outpatients with persistent fatigue and 36 withoutfatigue was studied. Data were collected from a computerizedregister and by interviews, and analyzed with regard to diseaseseverity categorized as mild or moderate/severe MS.

Results

Fatigued people with mild MS used more hospital outpatient careand primary care including rehabilitation, and a higher proportionhad transportation service, compared with non-fatigued peoplewith mild MS. In moderate/severe MS, the differences were thatnon-fatigued people used more occupational therapy in primarycare and a higher proportion had salaried service. Regardlessof MS severity, informal care was more common among fatiguedpeople.

Conclusions

Overall, fatigued people with mild MS have more contacts withoutpatient health care compared with non-fatigued people. Thereare few such differences in people with moderate/severe MS.The reasons for the differences in use between fatigued andnon-fatigued people are not understood and need further exploration.Fatigued people more often receive informal care, thus supportto caregivers are of particular importance if fatigue is present.