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Inverse association between arterial stiffness and perceived fatigue independent of disability status and BMI in multiple sclerosis

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Abstract

Introduction

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated, neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system. Fatigue represents one of the most prevalent and limiting symptoms of MS, and is associated with vascular dysfunction, notably increased arterial stiffness.

Objective

This study examined the relationship between arterial stiffness and perceived fatigue in persons with MS.

Methods

The sample of 52 persons with MS (71.2% Female; Age: 46.7 ± 12.3 yrs.) completed arterial stiffness and fatigue assessments as baseline for an exercise training intervention. Applanation tonometry measured arterial stiffness, pulsatility and waveform characteristics, and yielded the following outcomes: carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), carotid pulse-pressure (cPP), and aortic augmentation pressure (AP). Perceived fatigue was measured using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS).

Results

The mean (SD) scores for cfPWV, cPP, and AP were 7.0 ± 1.8 m/s, 35.7 ± 8.8 mmHg, 8.2 ± 6.2 mmHg, respectively. The mean (SD) FSS score was 4.6 ± 1.4 and indicated elevated fatigue. There were statistically significant (p < .05) inverse correlations between cfPWV (r = –.32), cPP (r = –.37) and AP (r = –.32) with FSS scores, and the correlations remained significant even after controlling for disability, body mass index, age, and sex.

Conclusion

Our results indicate a consistent pattern of inverse relationships between arterial stiffness, pulsatility, and waveforms with fatigue independent of disability, body mass index, age, and sex in MS. This could be explained by lower sympathetic activation linking higher arterial stiffness, pulsatility and augmentation pressure with lower fatigue in persons with MS.

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Data Availability

Data available on request from the authors.

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Funding

Research reported was funded by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society RG 4702A1/2.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Integrative Physiology Lab, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA

    Sydney R. DeJonge, Noah G. DuBose, Robert W. Motl & Bo Fernhall

  2. Manning College of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, USA

    Tracy Baynard & Bo Fernhall

Authors
  1. Sydney R. DeJonge
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  2. Noah G. DuBose
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  3. Robert W. Motl
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  4. Tracy Baynard
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  5. Bo Fernhall
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Contributions

S.D. analyzed data, interpreted results, drafted, and revised manuscript and prepared tables and figure. N.D. contributed to drafting the manuscript, and prepared tables. T.B., and R.M. edited the manuscript. B.F., designed research, and edited the manuscript. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sydney R. DeJonge.

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The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Ethical approval and Informed consent

All procedures received ehtical approval by the Institutional Review Board at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and written informed consent was provided by all participants.

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DeJonge, S.R., DuBose, N.G., Motl, R.W. et al. Inverse association between arterial stiffness and perceived fatigue independent of disability status and BMI in multiple sclerosis. Neurol Sci (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-024-07556-y

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