Factors affecting the severity of fatigue in male patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Fatigue, the second most common symptom after dyspnea in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, impairs functional capacity and quality of life. This study aims to predict the factors that affect fatigue severity and investigate the effects of fatigue in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. METHODS: Data were collected to assess demographic and clinical characteristics, cigarette consumption, fatigue severity (Fatigue Severity Scale), dyspnea severity (Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale), level of physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short-Form), and health-related quality of life (36-Item Short Form Health Survey). RESULTS: A total of 64 male COPD patients were evaluated (mean age 61.1 ± 4.7 years, mean FSS score 39.8 ± 14.4). The result of the linear regression model was significant and explained 84% of the variance in fatigue severity (Adjusted R-squared = 0.84, F = 29.48, df = 60, p < .001). It showed that the MRC score (ß = .40), cigarette consumption (ß = .35), and physical activity level (ß = -.37) were significantly correlated with the severity of fatigue (p < .001 for all) and that they independently contributed to the prediction of severity of fatigue. CONCLUSION: Dyspnea, cigarette consumption, and physical activity level affect fatigue severity. Additionally, physical activity level, pulmonary function, and HRQOL were also associated with fatigue. These findings support the assertion that it is important to measure fatigue and the factors that affect its severity.

Factores que afectan a la gravedad de la fatiga en pacientes varones con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica / Factors affecting the severity of fatigue in male patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Antecedentes y objetivos La fatiga, el segundo síntoma más común tras la disnea en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica, afecta a la capacidad funcional y a la calidad de vida de quienes la padecen. El objetivo de este estudio es predecir los factores que afectan a la gravedad de la fatiga e investigar los efectos de la fatiga en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica. Métodos Se recogieron datos para evaluar las características demográficas y clínicas, el consumo de tabaco, la gravedad de la fatiga (escala de gravedad de la fatiga), la gravedad de la disnea (escala Medical Research Council Dyspnea), el nivel de actividad física (Cuestionario Internacional de Actividad Física versión corta) y la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud (Cuestionario de Salud SF-36). Resultados Se evaluaron un total de 64 pacientes varones con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (media de edad 61,1±4,7 años, puntuación media de la escala de gravedad de la fatiga 39,8±14,4). El modelo de regresión lineal fue significativo y explicaba el 84% de la varianza de gravedad de la fatiga (R cuadrado ajustado=0,84; F=29,48; df=60; p<0,001). Los resultados pusieron de manifiesto que la escala Medical Research Council Dyspnea (β=0,40), el consumo de tabaco (β=0,35) y el nivel de actividad física (β=−0,37) estaban significativamente correlacionadas con la gravedad de la fatiga (p<0,001 para todos), y que contribuían de manera independiente en la predicción de la gravedad de la fatiga. Conclusión La disnea, el consumo de tabaco y el nivel de actividad física afectan a la gravedad de la fatiga. Además, el nivel de actividad física, las funciones pulmonares y la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud estaban asociados con la fatiga. Estos hallazgos nos demuestran que es importante identificar la fatiga y los factores que influyen en su gravedad (AU)

Background and objectives Fatigue, the second most common symptom after dyspnea in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, impairs functional capacity and quality of life. This study aims to predict the factors that affect fatigue severity and investigate the effects of fatigue in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Methods Data were collected to assess demographic and clinical characteristics, cigarette consumption, fatigue severity (Fatigue Severity Scale), dyspnea severity (Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale), level of physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form), and health-related quality of life (36-Item Short Form Health Survey). Results A total of 64 male chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients were evaluated (mean age 61.1±4.7 years, mean Fatigue Severity Scale score 39.8±14.4). The result of the linear regression model was significant and explained 84% of the variance in fatigue severity (Adjusted R-squared=0.84, F=29.48, df=60, p<.001). It showed that the Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale score (β=.40), cigarette consumption (β=.35), and physical activity level (β=−.37) were significantly correlated with the severity of fatigue (p<.001 for all) and that they independently contributed to the prediction of severity of fatigue. Conclusion Dyspnea, cigarette consumption, and physical activity level affect fatigue severity. Additionally, physical activity level, pulmonary function, and health-related quality of life were also associated with fatigue. These findings support the assertion that it is important to measure fatigue and the factors that affect its severity (AU)

Factors affecting the severity of fatigue in male patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. / Factores que afectan a la gravedad de la fatiga en pacientes varones con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Fatigue, the second most common symptom after dyspnea in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, impairs functional capacity and quality of life. This study aims to predict the factors that affect fatigue severity and investigate the effects of fatigue in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. METHODS: Data were collected to assess demographic and clinical characteristics, cigarette consumption, fatigue severity (Fatigue Severity Scale), dyspnea severity (Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale), level of physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form), and health-related quality of life (36-Item Short Form Health Survey). RESULTS: A total of 64 male chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients were evaluated (mean age 61.1±4.7 years, mean Fatigue Severity Scale score 39.8±14.4). The result of the linear regression model was significant and explained 84% of the variance in fatigue severity (Adjusted R-squared=0.84, F=29.48, df=60, p<.001). It showed that the Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale score (ß=.40), cigarette consumption (ß=.35), and physical activity level (ß=-.37) were significantly correlated with the severity of fatigue (p<.001 for all) and that they independently contributed to the prediction of severity of fatigue. CONCLUSION: Dyspnea, cigarette consumption, and physical activity level affect fatigue severity. Additionally, physical activity level, pulmonary function, and health-related quality of life were also associated with fatigue. These findings support the assertion that it is important to measure fatigue and the factors that affect its severity.

Phenotype properties and status of corticosteroid resistance among patients with uncontrolled asthma.

BACKGROUND: Control cannot be achieved in some asthmatics although optimal monitoring and treatment is administered. Glucocorticoid (GC) resistance is one of the reasons of poor asthma control. We aimed to investigate GC resistance by lymphocyte proliferation suppression test (LPST) in uncontrolled asthmatics. METHODS: After assessing asthma control level of 77 asthmatics their treatment was adjusted upon GINA guidelines. They were followed-up for three to six months and the patients who remained uncontrolled were accepted as uncontrolled patients. Steroid resistance test (SRT) was applied to them (7-14 days oral prednisolone) and the patients who were still uncontrolled and/or had a FEV1 increase <15% after SRT were assessed as the "case group" while the remaining composed the "control group". Optimal treatment was adjusted and at the end of a follow-up period LPST was performed to both groups. RESULTS: Fourteen of the case (n=22) and four (n=8) of the control groups could be evaluated by LPST. Proliferated lymphocytes were observed to be significantly suppressed in all dexamethasone concentrations in the control group (p=0.001). However, in the case group LPST was positive only at 10(-6) and 10(-4) concentrations although statistically not significant (p=0.147). There was no significant relationship between clinically GC resistance and LPST positivity (p=0.405). CONCLUSION: We determined that in vitro responses to the GCs were significantly declined in the uncontrolled asthma cases. An SRT alone does not seem to be very sensitive for evaluating GC sensitivity, LPST may be performed for demonstrating GC responsiveness in asthmatic patients in addition to SRT.