New perspective on fatigue in hemodialysis patients with preserved ejection fraction: diastolic dysfunction : Fatigue and diastolic dysfunction.

ABSTRACT

The relationship between diastolic dysfunction and fatigue in hemodialysis patients with preserved ejection fraction is unknown. In this context, the objective of this study is to assess fatigue using the relevant scales and to demonstrate its relationship with diastolic dysfunction. The patients who underwent hemodialysis were evaluated prospectively. Patients' fatigue was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale to Evaluate Fatigue Severity (VAS-F). The echocardiographic works were performed as recommended in the American Society of Echocardiography guidelines. A total of 94 patients [mean age 64.7 ± 13.5 years, 54 males (57.4%)] were included in the study. The median VAS-F score of these patients was 68.5 (33.25-91.25), and they were divided into two groups according to this value. Peak myocardial velocities during early diastole (e') and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) values were found to be significantly lower in the group with high VAS-F scores, whereas the early diastolic flow velocities (E)/e' ratio and pulmonary artery peak systolic pressures (PAP) were found to be significantly higher (p < 0.05, for all). E/e' ratio (r 0.311, p 0.002) and PAP (r 0.281, p 0.006) values were found to be positively correlated with the VAS-F score, as opposed to the TAPSE (r - 0.257, p 0.012) and e' (r - 0.303, p 0.003) values, which were found to be negatively correlated with the VAS-F score. High fatigue scores in hemodialysis patients may be associated with diastolic dysfunction. In addition, in our study, we determined the correlation of VAS-F score with E/e' ratio, PAP and TAPSE.