New research call: Fatigue

Versus Arthritis has partnered with the Kennedy Trust for Rheumatology Research to increase the evidence around fatigue in musculoskeletal conditions.

Versus Arthritis is seeking applications for a scoping review on ways to measure, assess and treat the chronic fatigue associated with musculoskeletal conditions. This can include:

  • the amount of evidence in each area
  • the quality of evidence available
  • where there are substantial gaps in current knowledge
  • the needs of people living with chronic fatigue
  • future research priorities based on the information gathered

Reviews should include scientific and clinical evidence, as well as meaningful inclusion of the needs of people living with chronic fatigue. The primary focus of the review is expected to be on musculoskeletal fatigue, but Versus Arthritis encourages cross-disease applications, including outside musculoskeletal diseases where chronic fatigue is a key component.

The focus of this evidence review is on chronic fatigue related to long-term conditions. Versus Arthritis welcomes proposals that include CFS/ME in the analysis, but proposals that include CFS/ME as the primary focus will not be reviewed. Studies that also include COVID-19 in the analysis will be accepted. Versus Arthritis strongly encourages applications that carefully consider chronic fatigue across the life course (younger to older) and across diverse demographics and ethnic groups.

There is an expectation that applicants meaningfully involve people living with chronic fatigue in the development of the outlined work.

The outputs of this scoping review are expected to provide an important guide and inform future research partnership activity.