Fatores clínicos, funcionais e inflamatórios associados à fadiga muscular e à fadiga autopercebida em idosas da comunidade / Clinical, functional and inflammatory factors associated with muscle fatigue and self-perceived fatigue in elderly community-dwelling women

CONTEXTUALIZAÇÃO: A fadiga é um sintoma comum e inespecífico associado aos problemas crônicos de saúde nos idosos. As alterações e adaptações do processo de envelhecimento associadas à natureza complexa e multidimensional da fadiga favorecem a interação de múltiplos fatores na gênese desse fenômeno. OBJETIVOS: Investigar a associação dos fatores clínicos, funcionais e inflamatórios com a fadiga muscular e a autopercebida em idosas. MÉTODOS: Participaram 135 idosas sedentárias da comunidade, com média de idade de 71,2±4,57. Questionário estruturado e teste funcional foram utilizados para avaliar as características clínicas e funcionais. As concentrações plasmáticas dos mediadores inflamatórios (IL-6 e sTNFR1) foram dosadas pelo método ELISA. A fadiga muscular foi mensurada pelo dinamômetro isocinético, e a fadiga autopercebida, pela Escala Visual Analógica (EVA). A análise estatística foi realizada pela regressão linear múltipla e pelo Coeficiente de Correlação de Spearman, com nível de significância de 5 por cento. RESULTADOS: Os modelos de regressão demonstraram que os fatores idade, índice de massa corporal (IMC), nível de atividade física, capacidade funcional e pico de torque foram associados à fadiga muscular (R²=0,216, p<0,01). A fadiga autopercebida foi associada ao número de comorbidades, estado depressivo, nível de atividade física, capacidade funcional, pico de torque e saúde percebida (R²=0,227, p<0,01). CONCLUSÃO: O presente estudo mostrou uma interação psicofísica da fadiga, identificando os principais fatores associados à fadiga muscular e à autopercebida em idosas. Esses achados demonstram a importância da avaliação e tratamento dos fatores modificáveis tanto na fadiga muscular quanto na autopercebida, buscando um melhor desempenho físico-funcional dos idosos.

BACKGROUND: Fatigue is a common and nonspecific symptom associated with chronic health problems in the elderly. The modifications and adaptations of the aging process associated with complex and multidimensional nature of fatigue favors the interaction of multiple factors in the genesis of this phenomenon. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association of clinical, functional and inflammatory factors with muscle fatigue and self perceived fatigue in elderly women. METHODS: Participated in the study one hundred and thirty five community elderly women, all sedentary, with a mean age of 71.2±4.57. A structured questionnaire and functional testing were used to evaluate clinical and functional characteristics. Plasma concentrations of inflammatory mediators (IL-6 and sTNFR1) were measured by ELISA method. Muscle fatigue was measured by isokinetic dynamometer and self-perceived fatigue was measured by a visual analog scale. Statistical analysis was performed by multiple linear regression and Spearman correlation coefficient with statistical significance of 5 percent. RESULTS: The regression models showed that the variables age, body mass index, physical activity level, functional capacity and peak torque were associated with muscle fatigue (R²=0.216, p<0.01). Self-perceived fatigue was associated with number of comorbidities, depression, physical activity level, functional capacity, peak torque and perceived health (R²=0.227, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: This study showed a psychophysical interaction of the fatigue, by identifying the main factors associated with muscle fatigue and self-perceived fatigue in elderly women. These findings demonstrate the importance of evaluation and treatment of modifiable factors in both muscle fatigue and self-perceived fatigue, seeking a better physical and functional performance of elders.

The Association of Occupational Stress with Self-perceived Fatigue in White Collar Employees / 대한산업의학회지

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: A growing body of research has documented that occupational stress is closely associated with increased risk of fatigue. This study was conducted in an effort to assess the relationship of occupational stress to self-perceived fatigue among Korean white collar employees. METHODS: Data were obtained from the National Study for Development and Standardization of Occupational Stress (NSDSOS Project, 2002-2004). Among them, a total of 4,502 white collar employees were recruited. A structured questionnaire was employed to evaluate the participants' sociodemographics, job-related factors, health-related behaviors, occupational stress, and self-perceived fatigue. Occupational stress and self-perceived fatigue were assessed using the Korean Occupational Stress Scale-Short form (KOSS-SF) and the Multidimensional Fatigue Scale (MFS), respectively. RESULTS: In logistic regression analyses, occupational stress was associated with an increased risk of fatigue, and some domains of occupational stress had different effects on fatigue by gender (job demand, job insecurity, and lack of reward for men, job demand, lack of reward, and discomfort in occupational climate for women), which indicates that occupational stress may perform a slightly different role in increasing the risk of fatigue by gender. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that occupational stress is a determinant predictor of selfperceived fatigue. Thus, a stress management program for the reduction of occupational stress, and the promotion of white collar worker's health and quality of life is strongly recommended. Some limitations of this study and considerations for future studies were also discussed.