ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The most widely used instrument to measure perceived exertion or exercise intensity is the Borg's Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) Scale. Panic attacks are aversive experiences that may be triggered by bodily sensations such as palpitations, breathlessness or dizziness due to increasing autonomic distress, prior sensitisation to panic and fear conditioning. The consequence is catastrophic interpretation of bodily sensations of arousal in general, which can lead to misinterpretation of exertion or exercise intensity. PURPOSE: To verify the effectiveness of the Borg's RPE Scale as a measure of perceived effort in panic disorder subjects. METHODS: The study enrolled 72 subjects: the control group (C, healthy sedentary subjects, n=30) and patients with panic disorder (PD, n=42). All subjects were submitted to an ergospirometry challenge. Perceived exertion RPE scores and heart rate at 90% VO2max were compared between groups. RESULTS: Patients with PD showed lower levels of maximal oxygen consumption, when compared with C group [VO2max (mL/kg/min): PD=29.42±6.50xC=34.51±5.35; Student's t-test=-3.51; p <0.05]. Furthermore, among PD subjects, the maximum heart rate during ergospirometry challenge was lower than expected [predict max HR (bpm)=200.85±6.33xheart rate test (bpm)=178.86±7.28; Z=-5.64; p<0.05]. Perceived exertion, as measured by RPE, was also overestimated in relation to heart rate at 90% of maximum oxygen consumption compared with controls (RPE90%VO2max: PD=18.93±0.55xC=16.67±0.60; U=8.00; Z=7.42; p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present study findings suggest that the Borg's RPE Scale may not be an appropriate measure of subjective exertion among subjects with panic disorder performing a cardiopulmonary exercise test.
ABSTRACT
Introducción: se reconoce que las enfermedades pulmonar obstructiva crónicaes una enfermedad multidimensional con afectación de diversos órganos, cuando estos fallan producen hipoxia y fatiga. Un indicador subjetivo para detectar fatiga es el Índice de fatiga de Borg. Objetivo: identificar el comportamiento del índice de fatiga de Borg. Materiales y métodos: se realizó un estudio observacional, prospectivo, de investigación correlacional, en un grupo de pacientes con diagnóstico confirmado de enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva, a los cuales se les realizó la Prueba de marcha de los 6 min, incluyendo el Índice de fatiga de Borg antes y después de la caminata de dicha prueba. Resultados: la media del indice de fatiga de Borg basal fue de 0,94 y al final de 1,75, con una diferencia entre ambas de 0,81. La correlación entre el índice final y la saturación de oxigeno fue 0 (p=0,989) y entre el Índice de fatiga de Borg final y la distancia recorrida fue de -0,36; (p=0,002). Conclusiones: la media del indice de fatiga de Borg final fue superior a la basal, con una diferencia significativa entre ambas medias. La correlación entre el Índice de fatiga de Borg final y la saturación de oxigeno fue nula. La distancia recorrida y el Índice de fatiga de Borg final tuvieron una relación inversamente proporcional.
Background: it is recognized that COPD is a multidimensional disease affecting several organs; when they fail, they cause hypoxia and fatigue. A subjective indicator for detecting fatigue is Borga’s fatigue index. Aim: Identify the behaviour of the index of fatigue of Borg. Materials and Methods: a prospective, observational study, of correlational research was carried out in a group of patients with confirmed diagnostic of obstructive pulmonary disease, to whom the PM6M was applied, including the Borga’s fatigue index before and after the walk of that trial. Outcomes: the average of the basal Borga’s fatigue index was 0.94 and of 1.75 at the end, with a difference between them of 0.81. The correlation between the final index and oxygen saturation was 0 (p=0,989), and between the final Borga’s fatigue index and the walked distance was -0,36 (p=0,002). Conclusions: the average of the final Borga’s fatigue index was higher than the basal one, with a significant difference between both media. The correlation between the final Borga’s fatigue index and the oxygen saturation was null. The walked distance and the final Borga’s fatigue index showed a proportionally inverse correlation.
