Assessment of Global Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis: A Spanish Language Version of the CGI and PGI Fatigue Scales

Background: Fatigue is often identified as weakness following muscular exertion in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) but may be associated with other physical, cognitive and emotional symptoms. Objective: To develop a Spanish language global impression of fatigue scales to evaluate symptoms of fatigue distinct from a particular disease. Methods: 50 ambulatory patients with MS attending a clinical institute in Argentina consented to participate in this reliability study. The Spanish language version of the Clinical and Patient Global Impressions of Fatigue (CGI-S-F and PGI-S-F) instruments were administered with the Massachusetts General Hospital cognitive and physical functioning questionnaire (MGH-CPFQ). Results: The CGI-S-F and PGI-S-F scores were well correlated with each other (p < 0.00005). The mean CGI-S for fatigue was 2.28 ± 1.07 (SD) and PGI-S for fatigue was 2.30 ± 1.16 (p = ns) reflecting borderline to mild perception of fatigue. The total MGH-CPFQ was 16.68 ± 4.32. Both CGI-S-F and PGI-S-F measures were correlated with the MGH-CPFQ: CGI-Severity (r = 0.632; p < 0.00005); PGI-Severity (r = 0.717; p < 0.00005). Conclusions: In this study, the Spanish language versions of the CGI-S-F and PGI-S-F were reliable measures in an MS population and can be useful and easily applied metrics in a busy clinical practice.