. 2009 Apr 1;59(561):e101–e109. doi: 10.3399/bjgp09X420329

Table 3.

Predictors of outcome in patients presenting with fatigue in general practice.

	Favourable course, n = 561			Unfavourable course, n = 535

	Univariate OR (95% CI)	P-value^a	Multivariate OR (95% CI); AUC 0.79	Univariate OR (95% CI)	P-value^a	Multivariate OR (95% CI); AUC 0.80
Demographic

Sex, female versus male	0.51 (0.33 to 0.77)	0.001^a	0.64 (0.40 to 1.03)	1.46 (0.98 to 2.16)	0.059^a

Age per year older				1.01 (1.00 to 1.02)	0.059^a
31–50 versus 18–30	1.44 (0.87 to 2.39)	0.16
51–89 versus 18–30	1.40 (0.81 to 2.42)	0.24

Education
Secondary versus primary	1.44 (0.58 to 3.57)	0.44		0.66 (0.33 to 1.32)	0.24
Tertiary versus primary	1.33 (0.49 to 3.61)	0.57		0.48 (0.22 to 1.04)	0.062

Care responsibilities
Care for children <5 years old, yes	1.01 (0.60 to 1.69)	0.98		0.80 (0.49 to 1.30)	0.37
Care for others, e.g. older people, yes	0.24 (0.09 to 0.68)	0.004^a	0.23 (0.07 to 0.71)	1.39 (0.79 to 2.43)	0.26
Hours of work per week	1.01 (1.00 to 1.01)	0.23		1.00 (0.99 to 1.00)	0.22
Employed, yes	1.70 (1.03 to 2.79)	0.048^a		0.63 (0.42 to 0.93)	0.023^a
Married or living together, yes	0.91 (0.61 to 1.38)	0.67		0.86 (0.60 to 1.23)	0.41

Fatigue

Fatigue severity, CIS, ppi	0.91 (0.89 to 0.93)	<0.001^a	0.93 (0.90 to 0.96)	1.10 (1.07 to 1.13)	<0.001^a	1.08 (1.05 to 1.11)
Less concentration, CIS, ppi	0.96 (0.94 to 0.98)	<0.001^a		1.04 (1.02 to 1.06)	<0.001^a
Less motivation, CIS, ppi	0.97 (0.94 to 1.00)	0.066^a		1.03 (1.00 to 1.06)	0.024

Duration
3–6 months versus <3 months	0.68 (0.39 to 1.19)	0.18		1.80 (1.03 to 3.15)	0.039
6–12 months versus <3 months	0.47 (0.26 to 0.86)	0.013		2.00 (1.13 to 3.52)	0.017
≥ 12 months versus <3 months	0.32 (0.19 to 0.54)	<0.001		3.13 (1.95 to 5.04)	<0.001

Previous episodes, yes	0.42 (0.28 to 0.63)	<0.001^a		1.41 (0.98 to 2.03)^a	0.067^a

Onset, sudden versus gradual	0.66 (0.40 to 1.08)	0.096^a		0.99 (0.62 to 1.58)	0.97

Fatigue in whole body or several body parts versus locally, only head or limbs	0.53 (0.36 to 0.79)	0.001^a		1.67 (1.16 to 2.40)^a	0.005^a

Perceptions

IPQ-R
Personal control, ppi	1.06 (1.01 to 1.12)	0.026		0.91 (0.87 to 0.96)^a	<0.001^a
Coherence of fatigue symptoms, ppi	1.03 (0.98 to 1.08)	0.21		0.94 (0.90 to 0.98)^a	0.003^a
Expectations of chronicity, ppi	0.84 (0.80 to 0.89)	<0.001^a	0.88 (0.83 to 0.93)	1.23 (1.17 to 1.29)^a	<0.001^a	1.19 (1.13to1.25)
Negative consequences, ppi	0.85 (0.81 to 0.90)	<0.001^a		1.18 (1.13 to 1.24)^a	<0.001^a
Psychological attribution, ppi	0.94 (0.90 to 0.98)	0.007^a		1.02 (0.99 to 1.06)	0.23
Viral/germ attribution, yes	1.32 (0.85 to 2.05)	0.22		0.84 (0.57 to 1.25)	0.40
Altered immunity attribution, yes	0.66 (0.43 to 1.01)	0.06^a		1.31 (0.91 to 1.88)^a	0.15^a
Diet/eating habits attribution, yes	0.72 (0.42 to 1.24)	0.23		1.61 (1.02 to 2.55)^a	0.040^a

Health and other symptoms

Better perceived health, SF-36, ppi	1.03 (1.02 to 1.05)	<0.001^a	1.01 (1.00 to 1.03)	0.97 (0.96 to 0.98)^a	<0.001^a

Less pain, SF-36, ppi	1.02 (1.01 to 1.03)	<0.001^a		0.97 (0.97 to 0.98)^a	<0.001^a	0.98 (0.97 to 0.99)

Distress, 4DSQ, ppi	0.93 (0.91 to 0.96)	<0.001^a		1.06 (1.04 to 1.09)^a	<0.001^a

Depression, 4DSQ, ppi	0.86 (0.78 to 0.95)	0.002^a		1.21 (1.12 to 1.30)^a	<0.001^a

Anxiety, 4DSQ, ppi	0.87 (0.81 to 0.94)	<0.001^a		1.10 (1.05 to 1.16)^a	<0.001^a

Somatisation, 4DSQ, ppi	0.91 (0.88 to 0.95)	<0.001^a		1.10 (1.07 to 1.13)^a	<0.001^a

Sleep problems, SCL-90
Above average versus low or average	1.10 (0.64 to 1.89)	0.73		0.81 (0.49 to 1.33)	0.40
High versus low or average	0.82 (0.51 to 1.30)	0.39		1.22 (0.81 to 1.83)	0.34

Number of experienced symptoms since start of fatigue, IPQ-R	0.85 (0.78 to 0.92)	<0.001^a		1.14 (1.07 to 1.22)^a	<0.001^a

Social factors and lifestyle

Number of days of moderate intensity physical activity for at least 30 minutes, SQUASH
Continuous	1.07 (0.99 to 1.16)	0.11^a
1–5 days versus 0 days				0.81 (0.53 to 1.26)	0.35
5–7 days versus 0 days				0.96 (0.59 to 1.57)	0.86

Physical activity of vigorous intensity in work, school or household, SQUASH
<5 hours versus no	1.08 (0.68 to 1.71)	0.74		0.82 (0.54 to 1.25)	0.36
≥5 hours versus no	0.72 (0.44 to 1.17)	0.18		0.99 (0.66 to 1.49)	0.97

Enjoying daily activities, yes	1.88 (1.20 to 2.94)	0.005^a		0.60 (0.42 to 0.87)	0.006^a

Mentally strenuous daily activities, yes	0.83 (0.56 to 1.24)	0.37		1.13 (0.80 to 1.60)	0.50

More (serious) prolonged difficulties, ppi	0.89 (0.84 to 0.95)	<0.001^a	0.93 (0.88 to 0.99)	1.09 (1.05 to 1.14)^a	<0.001^a

Life events
1 versus 0	1.03 (0.62 to 1.73)	1.03		0.97 (0.62 to 1.53)	0.90
≥2 versus 0	0.81 (0.51 to 1.31)	0.81		1.20 (0.80 to 1.82)	0.38

Less social support, SOS, ppi	0.96 (0.93 to 0.98)	0.002^a		1.05 (1.03 to 1.07)^a	<0.001^a	1.03 (1.01 to 1.06)

Alcohol, number of glasses in 5 categories; per category	1.11 (0.97 to 1.28)	0.14^a		0.90 (0.79 to 1.03)^a	0.11^a

Smoking, daily versus sometimes, ever or never	0.76 (0.46 to 1.25)	0.27		1.48 (0.97 to 2.26)^a	0.065^a

Univariate P values <0.20 were selected for multivariate analysis. OR = odds ratio. CI = confidence interval. AUC = area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. CIS = Checklist Individual Strength. ppi = per point increase. IPQ-R = Illness Perception Questionnaire – Revised. SF-36 = Short Form health survey – 36. 4DSQ = Four-Dimensional Symptom Questionnaire. SCL = Symptom Checklist. SQUASH = Short Questionnaire to ASsess Health-enhancing physical activity. SOS = Social Support Scale.