Table 3 Seasonal variations in fatigue levels, in persons with rheumatoid arthritis, rated by the VAS for general fatigue and the BRAF-MDQ

VAS fatigue

Season

Winter

50.86

44.15; 57.57

<0.01

(0–100)

Spring

50.62

43.88; 57.36

Summer

46.34

39.53; 53.16

Autumn

44.88

37.95; 51.81

Sex

0.08

Age

0.62

Total

Season

Winter

28.15

24.52; 31.78

<0.01

(0–70)

Spring

26.77

23.12; 30.43

Summer

25.13

21.44; 28.81

Autumn

25.59

21.85; 29.33

Sex

0.25

Age

0.56

Physical

Season

Winter

13.67

12.41; 14.94

<0.01

(0–22)

Spring

13.30

12.03; 14.57

Summer

12.46

11.18; 13.75

Autumn

12.74

11.43; 14.05

Sex

0.11

Age

0.46

Living

Season

Winter

6.11

4.99; 7.24

<0.01

(0–21)

Spring

5.52

4.39; 6.66

Summer

5.06

3.92; 6.21

Autumn

5.10

3.93; 6.27

Sex

0.44

Age

0.43

Cognition

Season

Winter

4.78

3.85; 5.71

0.40

(0–15)

Spring

4.67

3.73; 5.61

Summer

4.32

3.37; 5.27

Autumn

4.65

3.69; 5.62

Sex

0.34

Age

0.70

Emotion

Season

Winter

3.54

2.78; 4.31

0.33

(0–12)

Spring

3.29

2.52; 4.06

Summer

3.19

2.41; 3.97

Autumn

3.15

2.36; 3.94

Sex

0.50

Age

0.16