Purpose: In the majority of studies about fatigue and AMI to date, researchers have studied samples of women using qualitative methods. The purpose of this study was to characterize fatigue experienced by both men and women during AMI using three quantitative instruments and to compare fatigue prior to AMI with fatigue experienced after hospitalization.

Background: Fatigue is a commonly experienced symptom of AMI, however, there is a disturbing lack of knowledge about the fatigue that occurs among men and women at the time of AMI. Fatigue that occurs with AMI has been described but not measured in women, and there is a lack of data related to fatigue during AMI with men.

Methods: During hospitalization, 108 patients from 6 Midwestern hospitals were recruited. AMI was identified by ST segment deviation >1mm in ≥2 contiguous leads or troponin I >.05. Profile of Mood States (POMS), Fatigue Severity Index (FSI), and Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) were completed during hospitalization. FSI interference subscale was used to quantify the degree to which fatigue interfered with daily life. Fatigue was measured using the POMS fatigue subscale. Vigor was measured using POMS vigor subscale and vitality was measured using SF-36 vitality subscale. The sample included 74% men (mean age= 59.4), 26% women (mean age= 62.0); 73% Caucasian, 20% African-American, and 4% Hispanic.

Results: Significant gender differences were found on each subscale. Women reported significantly less vitality (40.2 ± 11.7) than men (48.4 ± 10.6; t=3.3, p<.05) on the SF-36 vitality subscale. On the FSI, women reported more interference (34.8 ± 13.8) than men (17.9 ± 15.6; t= -5.0; p<.001). Women also reported more fatigue (15.8 ± 7.3; men= 11.4 ± 7.1; t= -2.8, p<.05) and less vigor (12.2 ± 6.8; men= 16.1 ± 7.0; t=2.5; p<.05) on the POMS. The POMS fatigue subscale showed significant gender differences at 30 days (t=2.26; p=.029). At 30 days, males reported relatively constant scores, while women’s scores changed significantly (fatigue decreased, vigor and vitality increased).

Conclusions: Three well established measures were used to examine the prevalence of fatigue. Women reported higher levels of fatigue during AMI than men and reported significantly less fatigue 30 days post hospitalization lending support to the conclusion that fatigue is a symptom of AMI especially in women.

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