Eser KALAOĞLU, Ömer Faruk BUCAK, Yelda Soluk ÖZDEMİR, Nurdan PAKER, Fatma Nur KESİKTAŞ
Comprehensive Medicine - 2026;18(1):1-6
Objective: Fatigue is a common but underrecognized symptom in knee osteoarthritis (OA), which significantly impacts patients' quality of life. This study aimed to investigate the associations between fatigue severity and clinical variables in individuals with knee OA. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 92 patients (mean age 64.09 +/- 9.68 years; 62.0% female) clinically diagnosed with knee OA. Fatigue severity was assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale. Additional assessments included pain intensity via the Visual Analog Scale, functional status using the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score - Physical Function Shortform (KOOS-PS), and anxiety and depression levels as measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated for each participant, and radiographic severity of knee OA was determined using the Kellgren-Lawrence Classification. Spearman's rank correlation was employed for statistical analyses to determine associations between the variables. Results: Significant positive correlations were observed between fatigue severity and BMI (r=0.335, p=0.001), pain intensity (r=0.386, p<0.001), anxiety levels (r=0.323, p=0.002), depression levels (r=0.318, p=0.002), and radiographic severity (r=0.464, p<0.001). Additionally, a significant negative correlation was found between fatigue severity and the KOOS-PS score (r=-0.356, p<0.001). Conclusion: Fatigue in knee OA is significantly associated with radiographic severity, pain, mood disorders, functional impairment, and BMI. These findings highlight the importance of considering fatigue as a core component of OA assessment and treatment. Multidisciplinary approaches targeting these factors are recommended to improve patient outcomes.
