Fatigue in cystic fibrosis: a novel prospective study investigating subjective and objective factors associated with fatigue.

Fatigue is a debilitating symptom in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Although fatigue is commonly reported in these patients, an effective treatment for this symptom has not been found. The factors associated with fatigue in CF have not been investigated. We conducted a prospective, case-control study in adult patients with CF. All the patients were chronically infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and were enrolled in the study during disease stability. A gender and age-matched control group was also recruited. Subjective assessment included three questionnaires: the Chalder fatigue questionnaire, St Mary's Hospital sleep questionnaire (SQ), and the scaled general health and Hillier questionnaire (GHQ). For patients with CF, spirometry, body mass index (BMI), haemoglobin level, C-reactive protein, and the burden of pulmonary exacerbations (PExs) were assessed. The control group completed all the three questionnaires, and their BMI was measured. A total of 78 participants were enrolled in the study (44 patients with CF and 34 control). Female patients with CF received antibiotics for more days than male patients with CF. The fatigue score did not differ between female and male participants in either the patients with CF or the control group; however, the fatigue score was greater for both the sexes in the patients with CF compared with the control group: p = 0.038 for female and p = 0.048 for male. The scores for the SQ and the GHQ did not differ between the two study groups. The fatigue score correlated with the total score for SQ (p < 0.0001) in patients with CF, but not in control participants. In patients with CF and the individuals in the control group, a close correlation was found between the fatigue score and the GHQ domain-specific scores and with the total score; p < 0.0001 for patients with CF and p = 0.001 for control. No correlations were found between the fatigue score and any of the objective parameters studied.

The size of the spleen by magnetic resonance imaging in patients with cystic fibrosis; with and without diabetes--a novel observational study.

BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been shown to be a useful tool to evaluate the volume of the pancreas. There is currently no information about the size of the spleen in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We investigated 51 adult volunteers: 28 pancreatic insufficient CF patients [13 with CF-related diabetes (CFRD) and 15 non-diabetic] and 23 male non-CF patients [12 with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and 11 healthy control subjects]. Patients with known liver cirrhosis or portal hypertension were excluded. The size of the spleen was measured in all subjects by an investigator unaware of patients' clinical status. For comparison of spleen size in the four study groups only male CF patients were included. For CF patients, spleen size was compared with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1)), body mass index (BMI), total number of days of intravenous (IV) antibiotic treatment for pulmonary exacerbations in year previous to study, levels of circulating white blood cells, glycosylated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and exocrine function of the pancreas, as assessed by daily requirement of oral lipase. RESULTS: Amongst the four study groups, spleen size was greatest in the male non-diabetic CF patients (P = 0.01). For CF patients, spleen size was greater in male compared to female patients (P = 0.012). For patients with CFRD, there was an inverse correlation between the spleen size and HbA1c (r = -0.59, P = 0.04) and the daily intake of supplementary lipase (r = -0.63, P = 0.02). The size of the spleen in patients with CFRD, but not in CF patients without CFRD, inversely correlated with the days of IV antibiotic treatment received in the year previous to the study (r = -0.67, P = 0.012). There was no correlation between spleen size and BMI, FEV1 and white blood cell counts in any group. CONCLUSION: On MRI, the spleen size was greatest in male non-diabetic CF patients in comparison with other groups. The size of the spleen in CFRD patients was smaller when diabetes was poorly controlled, when exocrine pancreatic function was greatly impaired and in those with greater need for IV antibiotics in the year prior to the study.

Remote daily real-time monitoring in patients with COPD --a feasibility study using a novel device.

New technologies have allowed remote real-time electronic recording of symptoms and spirometry. The feasibility of utilising this technology in COPD patients has not been investigated. This is a feasibility study. The primary objective is to determine whether the use of an electronic diary with a portable spirometer can be performed by COPD patients with a moderate to severe disease. Secondary objectives are to investigate the value of this method in early detection of acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD). In this 6-month study, 18 patients recorded daily their symptom score and spirometry. Data was sent on real time. AECOPD which was defined according to pre-set criteria were noted. Spirometry values and scores for health-related quality of life were compared between the start and the end of the study. Hospitalisation rate due to AECOPD was compared with a parallel period in the previous year. On average, patients were able to record 77% of their total study days. The system detected 73% of AECOPD. In further 27% of AECOPD patients sought treatment although the change in symptoms did not meet AECOPD definition. The number of COPD-related hospitalisations significantly reduced compared to the previous year. There was a significant increase in FEV(1) and FVC from the start to the end of the study. The remote monitoring device used in this study can be used in COPD patients. AECOPD was detected early in the majority of cases. Hospitalisation rate due to AECOPD was reduced and FEV(1) and FVC values increased during the study.