Severity of Fatigue and Depression Among Patients With Chronic Lumbar Radiculopathy: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Chronic lumbar radiculopathy (CLRP) is a prevalent neuropathic pain syndrome in which non-pain symptoms such as fatigue and depressive symptoms may contribute substantially to disability and reduced participation, yet their burden in CLRP is insufficiently characterized in routine outpatient settings. Objective: To determine the frequency and severity of fatigue and depressive symptoms among patients with CLRP and to evaluate the association between fatigue and depression, including differences by gender and educational status. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at the Physiotherapy Outpatient Department, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Karachi, from August 2025 to October 2025.Using convenience sampling, 100 adults (30–65 years) with clinically diagnosed CLRP confirmed by neurosurgical assessment and MRI were enrolled after written consent. Fatigue was measured using the FACIT-F scale (0–52; lower scores indicate greater fatigue) and depressive symptoms using the CES-D scale (0–60; higher scores indicate greater symptoms). Descriptive statistics, group comparisons, and Spearman correlation were analyzed in SPSS v22. Results: Severe fatigue (FACIT-F ≤30) was present in 59.0% of participants, moderate fatigue in 21.0%, mild fatigue in 8.0%, and no fatigue in 12.0%. Depressive symptoms were categorized as mild in 53.0%, moderate in 37.0%, and severe in 10.0%. Females had significantly greater fatigue than males (mean FACIT-F 24.24 vs 30.12; p=0.023), and lower educational status was associated with greater fatigue (p=0.012), while CES-D differences by gender and education were not significant (p>0.05). Fatigue and depression showed a modest inverse association (Spearman ρ=−0.31; p=0.002). Conclusion: Fatigue is highly prevalent and frequently severe among patients with CLRP, with demographic gradients favoring greater fatigue in females and lower educational groups; depressive symptoms are common but generally less strongly patterned.