Factor analysis identifies three separate symptom clusters in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

ABSTRACT: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a severe and progressive lung disease with a poor prognosis. Patients with IPF suffer from a high symptom burden, which impairs their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Lack of research on IPF symptoms and their clustering, however, makes symptom-centred care challenging. We sent two questionnaires, RAND 36-Item Health Survey and Edmonton Symptom Assessment System, to 300 patients from the FinnishIPF registry. Of the 300 patients, 245 (82%) responded. We performed an exploratory factor analysis on the results to search for potential clustering of symptoms into factors. We found three distinct symptom factors: the emotional factor (including depression, anxiety, insomnia, loss of appetite and nausea), the pain factor (pain at rest or in movement)

SUBMITTER: Seppala S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7533377 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature