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Table 3 Studies/substudies (n = 60) with reported MIDs for fatigue scales, subscales or single fatigue items. Study design and population are shown along with estimation method

From: Minimal important differences for fatigue patient reported outcome measures—a systematic review

Instrument/scale (score range)

Citation/Population

Design

Anchor-based MID

Distribution-based MID

Triangulation MID

Anchor

Global change (% of scale range)

Improved

Worsened

Multidimensional scales

MFI

(20–100)

Goligher et al. 2008 SLE (n = 80)

Cross-sectional

GRS (7-step)

Paired comparisons

11.5 (14 %)

9.6

12.8

  
 

Pouchot et al. 2008 RA (n = 61)

Cross-sectional

GRS (7-step)

Paired comparisons

13.3 (17 %)

6.8

9.5

  

FSS

(1–7)

Goligher et al. 2008 SLE (n = 80)

Cross-sectional

GRS (7-step)

Paired comparisons

0.6 (10 %)

0.08

1.2

  
 

Pouchot et al. 2008 RA (n = 61)

Cross-sectional

GRS (7-step)

Paired comparisons

1.2 (20 %)

0.4

1.0

  
 

Robinson et al. 2009 MS (n = 249)

Cross-sectional

Disease duration, Expanded Disability Status Scale, Patient Assessment of MS Impact, MS Functional Composite

0.5–1.1 (8–18 %)

  

ES 0.3–0.8

1

MAF

(1–50)

Goligher et al. 2008 SLE (n = 80)

Cross-sectional

GRS (7-step)

Paired comparisons

5.0 (10 %)

1.4

8.9

  
 

Pouchot et al. 2008 RA (n = 61)

Cross-sectional

GRS (7-step)

Paired comparisons

9.2 (19 %)

5.4

8.3

  

CFS

(0–33)

Goligher et al. 2008 SLE (n = 80)

Cross-sectional

GRS (7-step)

Paired comparisons

2.3 (7 %)

0.7

3.2

  
 

Pouchot et al. 2008 RA (n = 61)

Cross-sectional

GRS (7-step)

Paired comparisons

3.3 (10 %)

1.4

3.5

  

FIS

(0–160)

Rendas-Baum et al. 2010 MS (n = 184)

Cross-sectional

Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), SF-36, EQ-5D

9–24

15.5 (10 %)

  

4.8 (1 SEM), 9.6 (2 SEM)

11.6 (1/3 SD), 17.3 (½ SD)

10–20

TOI-F

(0–108)

Cella et al. 2002 Cancer (n = 2,583)

Cross-sectional

Longitudinal

3 studies, follow-up: 3 d - 12 m

Performance status, haemoglobin level, response to treatment

4.8–26.6 (4–25 %)

  

4.2 (1 SEM), 10.5 (½SD)

5.0

PQ

(12–60)

Baró et al. 2011 Cancer (n = 437)

Longitudinal Follow-up: 3 m

Haemoglobin level

 

3.7

  

3.5

SCFS

(6–30)

Schwartz et al. 2001 Cancer (n = 103)

Longitudinal Follow-up: 2 d

GRS (7-step)

5.0 (21 %)

2.1

5.7

  

FAsD

(1–5)

Matza et al. 2013 Depression (n = 96)

Longitudinal Follow-up: 6 w

BFI, ESS, CGI-S, Patient’s perception of change

 

0.3–0.6

0.2–0.3

  

NFI-MS

(0–30, 0–24 and 0–12 resp.)

Mills et al. 2012 MS (n = 208)

Longitudinal Follow-up: 6–8 w

Global perceived change item (5-step)

2.5 (SS) (8 %)

2.4 (PS) (10 %)

0.8 (CS) (7 %)

    

Unidimensional scales or subscales

MFI sbscales: GF, PF, RA, RM and MF

(4–20)

Purcell et al. 2010 Cancer (n = 210)

Longitudinal Follow-up: 6 w post treatment

Score change pre- and post-radiotherapy

GF: 2.1 (13 %)

PF: 2.0 (13 %)

RA: 2.4 (15 %)

RM: 1.6 (10 %)

MF: 1.4 (9 %)

   

2 for each subscale

U-FIS

(0–66)

Twiss et al. 2010 MS (n = 911)

Longitudinal Follow-up: 12 m

EQ-5D

 

6.5

4.7

4.2–7.0 (ES 0.3–0.5)

2.4 (1 SEM)

 

FAS

(10–50)

de Kleijn et al. 2011 Sarcoidosis (n = 321)

Longitudinal Follow-up: 12 m

WHOQOL-BREF/Physical health domain, ROC

3.5 (9 %)

3.0

3.8

4.2 (ES 0.5)

3.6 (1 SEM)

4

SF-36 VT

(0–100)

Bjorner et al. 2007 Several disease conditions (n = 3,445)

Cross-sectional

Regression analyses using age, gender, race, disease condition and functional outcomes

    

5/group level 10/individual level

 

Goligher et al. 2008 SLE (n = 80)

Cross-sectional

GRS (7-step)

Paired comparisons

10.7 (11 %)

7.3

18.3

  
 

Kosinski et al. 2000 RA (n = 693)

Longitudinal Follow-up: 6 w

Patient global assessment, Physician global assessment, pain, swelling, tenderness

4.9–11.1 (5–11 %)

    
 

Pouchot et al. 2008 RA (n = 61)

Cross-sectional

GRS (7-step)

Paired comparisons

14.8 (15 %)

11.3

11.9

  
 

Spiegel et al. 2005 Hepatitis C virus

Systematic review Delphi method

ES data from included studies

   

ES of 0.2

Range 0.15–0.25

4.2

Range 3–5

 

Ward et al. 2015 RA (n = 249)

Longitudinal Follow-up: 1–4 m

HAQ, CES-D, Health transition item of SF36, Global transition item

11.0–20.0 (11–20 %)

    
 

Wyrwich et al. 2003 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Delphi method

Patient change scenarios and

SF36 data

    

12.5

 

Wyrwich et al. 2004 Coronary artery disease/congestive heart failure

Delphi method

Patient change scenarios and

SF36 data

    

18.8

Range 18.8–25

FACIT-Fatigue

(0–52)

Cella et al. 2002 Cancer (n = 2,583)

Cross-sectional Longitudinal 3 d - 12 m

Performance status, haemoglobin level, response to treatment

3 (6 %)

   

3

 

Cella et al. 2005 RA (n = 271)

Longitudinal Follow-up: 24 w

VT/SF-36, MAF

3–4 (6–8 %)

  

4.10 (1 SEM)

2.2–5.5 (ES 0.2–0.5)

3–4

 

Goligher et al. 2008 SLE (n = 80)

Cross-sectional

GRS (7-step)

Paired comparisons

5.9 (11 %)

2.8

9.1

  
 

Lai et al. 2011 SLE (n = 254)

Longitudinal Follow-up: 12–52 w

Physician-reported anchors (Physician GA)

3–7 (6–13 %)

  

2.7 (1 SEM)

4.6 (1/3 SD), 6.8 (½SD)

3–6

 

Pouchot et al. 2008 RA (n = 61)

Cross-sectional

GRS (7-step)

Paired comparisons

8.3 (16 %)

6.8

5.2

  
 

Reddy et al. 2007 Cancer (n = 194)

Longitudinal Follow-up: 8 d

Global Benefit Score (7 step)

 

10

   

FACT-An Fatigue

(0–80)

Patrick et al. 2003 Cancer (n = 375)

Longitudinal, Follow-up: pre and post chemotherapy

Haemoglobin level

Regression analysis

 

4.2

   

POMS-F

(0–28)

Schwartz et al. 2002 Cancer (n = 103)

Longitudinal Follow-up: 2 d

GRS (7-step)

5.6 (20 %)

2.1

5.7

  

EORTC QLQ-C30 Fatigue Subscale

(0–100)

Bedard et al. 2013b Cancer (n = 276)

Longitudinal Follow-up: 1 m

Overall QoL

  

24.5

19.7 (1 SEM)

6–15 (0.2–0.5 SD)

 
 

Bedard et al. 2014 Cancer (n = 369)

Longitudinal Follow-up: 1 m

Overall QoL 1–7

Overall health anchor

 

13.6–17.3

 

1.8 (1 SEM)

6.7–16.8 (0.2–0.5 SD)

 
 

Kvam et al. 2010 Multiple myeloma (n = 239)

Longitudinal Follow-up: 3 m

Global rating of change (7-step but categorized into 3)

 

13.5

8.6

  
 

Maringwa et al. 2011a Brain cancer (n = 941)

Cross-sectional and longitudinal

WHO Performance Status and MMSE

 

12.4

8.9

10.0 (1 SEM)

 
 

Maringwa et al. 2011b Lung cancer (n = 812)

Cross-sectional and longitudinal

Physician-rated WHO

PS and weight change

 

14.1

5.7

11 (1 SEM)

 
 

Zeng et al. 2012 Cancer (n = 93)

Longitudinal Follow-up: 1 m

KPS clinical marker

 

11.4

7.8

3.0–3.1 (1 SEM)

5.8–14–7 (0.2–0.5 SD)

 

SIS

(0–100)

Lasch et al. 2009 MDD (n = 379)

Longitudinal Follow-up: 8 w

Clinician rated tool (7-step) on severity and improvement

E/F: 11.9 (12 %)

MF: 13.3 (13 %)

  

8.7 (½SD)

10.6 (½SD)

 

CRQ

(1–7)

Schünemann et al. 2005 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Systematic review

CRQ data from5 studies, patient global ratings anchors and distributions based MIDs

0.5–0.6 (8–10 %)

  

0.47–0.54 (1 SEM)

0.5

 

Wyrwich et al. 2003 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Delphi method

Patient change scenarios and CHQ data

    

2

CHQ

(4–28)

Wyrwich et al. 2004 Coronary artery disease/congestive heart failure

Delphi method

Patient change scenarios and

CHQ data

    

3

Range 3–4

QOLIE-31 Energy/fatigue subscale

(0–100)

Borghs et al. 2012 Epilepsy (n = 1,035)

Longitudinal study of 3 RCTs Follow-up: 12 w

Patient global impression of change (PGIC)

Regression analysis

7.5 (8 %)

  

5.8 (0.3 ES) 9.4 (1 SEM)

 

Single item measure

VAS Fatigue Single item

(0–100)

Colangelo et al. 2009 SLE (n = 202)

Longitudinal Follow-up: 7.5 m

Self-rated health (5 step)

 

13.9

9.1

  
 

George & Pope 2011 Sjögren’s syndrome (n = 40)

Longitudinal Follow-up: ≤ 16 m

Self-rated health (5 step)

 

6.2

15.2

  
 

Kwok & Pope 2010 PsA (n = 200)

Longitudinal Follow-up: ≤12 m

Self-rated health (5 step)

 

8.2

3.6

  
 

Sekhon et al. 2010 Systematic sclerosis (n = 109)

Longitudinal Follow-up: 7.5 m

Self-rated health (5 step)

 

10.0

3.8

  
 

Wells et al. 2007 RA (n = 1,043)

Longitudinal Follow-up: 6–12 m Delphi method

HAQ, Patient Global assessment of disease and pain

6.7–17 (7–17 %)

   

10

 

Wheaton & Pope 2010 SpA (n = 140)

Longitudinal Follow-up: 5 m

Self-rated health (5 step)

 

1.4

14.4

  

VAS Fatigue

Single item

(0–10)

Khanna et al. 2008 RA (n = 307)

Longitudinal Follow-up: 5.9 m

Retrospective anchor (5-step)

 

0.8–1.1

1.1–1.3

Improved: ES = 0.39

Worsened: ES = 0.44

 

GRS Single item (0–10)

Goligher et al. 2008 SLE (n = 80)

Cross-sectional

GRS (7-step)

Paired comparisons

1.3 (13 %)

0.3

1.5

  
 

Pouchot et al. 2008 RA (n = 61)

Cross-sectional

GRS (7-step)

Paired comparisons

2.0 (20 %)

0.9

1.5

  
 

Schwartz et al. 2001 Cancer (n = 103)

Longitudinal Follow-up: 2 d

GRS (7-step)

1.1 (11 %)

    

ESAS fatigue Single item (0–10)

Bedard et al. 2013a Cancer (n = 421)

Longitudinal Follow-up: 4–12 w

Well-being

 

0.1–1.3

1.0–1.8

0.1 (1 SEM)

0.5–1.4 (0.2–0.5 SD)

 
 

Reddy et al. 2007 Cancer (n = 194)

Longitudinal Follow-up: 8 d

Global Benefit Score (7 step)

 

4

   

ITP-PAC

(0–100)

Mathias et al. 2009 ITP (n = 125)

Longitudinal Follow-up: 4 w

Global assessment of change items (15-step)

15.0 (15 %)

  

ES = 0.57

 

PROMIS fatigue item bank scales

PROMIS Fatigue-17 (17–85)

Yost et al. 2011 Cancer (n = 101)

Cross-sectional and longitudinal Follow-up: 6–12 w

23 anchor measures

T-score MID: 2.5–4.5

Raw-score MID: 4.0–8.0 (6–12 %)

  

Cross-sectional: ES 0.34–0.79

Longitudinal: ES 0.27–0.52

 

PROMIS Fatigue-7 (7–35)

Yost et al. 2011 Cancer (n = 101)

Cross-sectional and longitudinal Follow-up: 6–12 w

23 anchor measures

T-score MID: 3.0–5.0

Raw-score MID: 2.0–3.0 (7–11 %)

  

Cross-sectional: ES 0.24–0.76 Longitudinal: ES 0.24–0.51

 
  1. GRS (7-step) = Global rating scale with 7 response categories: Much more fatigue, Somewhat more fatigue, A little bit more fatigue, About the same fatigue, A little bit less fatigue, Somewhat less fatigue, and Much less fatigue
  2. Paired comparisons = Participants rated their fatigue in relation to another participant
  3. PsA Psoriatic arthritis, SpA Spondyloarthropathy