Fatigue in IPF measured by the Fatigue Assessment Scale during antifibrotic treatment

Background: Fatique is reported in 39% of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and is also a registered side effect of pirfenidone. The Fatique Assessment Scale (FAS) was developed for assessment of fatique in sarcoidosis and has only been used little in IPF. The aim of the present study was to determine change in FAS measured fatique before and after initiation of treatment with pirfenidone or nintedanib. Method: Between April 2017 and January 2018, all incident IPF patients starting antifibrotic treatment were asked to complete FAS before, 4 weeks and 3 months after initiation of antifibrotic treatment. Baseline characteristics including lung function were registered. Results: Thirtyfour patients (74% male, mean age 72.2 years (SD 8.8)) were included. Mean FVC% 87 (SD 21), mean DLCO% 50 (SD 17). Sixteen patients started nintedanib, eighteen patients started pirfenidone. For FAS scores, see table. There was no statistically significant difference between FAS for patients treated with nintedanib or pirfenidone. Total FAS did not change statistically significantly during the 3 months observation period. a: p>0.05, b: p>0.05 Conclusion: In this cohort of incident IPF patients, the majority suffered from significant fatigue at diagnosis. Neither of the antifibrotic treatments affected FAS significantly during 3 months observation.