Fatigue is one of the most debilitating symptoms suffered by those with HIV infection, yet little is known about its correlates. Our primary aims are to describe the degree to which fatigue affects daily functioning and the demographic and illness-related predictors of fatigue. The sample (n = 128) was composed of primarily poor, unemployed people of color. Fatigue most often interfered with the ability to think quickly, perform household chores, exercise, work, engage in recreational activities, walk, plan activities, and think clearly. The consequences of fatigue were highest for lowered motivation, difficulty concentrating, increased drowsiness, losing patience, and interference with work, family, and social life. Multiple linear regression analyses revealed statistically significant associations of employment status, monthly income, current antidepressant use, and number of years living with HIV infection as predictors of fatigue. These must be better understood in order to develop interventions to successfully ameliorate HIV-related fatigue
