A comparison of arm exercise capacity and activities of daily living between well-controlled asthma patients with and without severe fatigue during daily life

Abstract

Introduction and background: Many studies reporting impaired exercise capacity and activities of daily living (ADL) in asthma. Fatigue may be one reason of exercise intolerance and impaired ADL as a common symptom.

Aim and objectives: We aimed with this study to compare upper extremity exercise capacity, ADL and health status according to fatigue severity.

Methods: We included 34 patients with asthma and we categorized them as patients with (≥4 score) and without severe fatigue (<4 score) according to Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS).We conducted arm ergometer test for arm exercise capacity, Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) for general health status and London Chest Activity of Daily Living  Questionnaire (LCADL) for ADL.

Results: According to FSS score,19 asthmatics (58.5%) had no fatigue and 14 asthmatics (41.5%) had severe fatigue. Maksimal work rate and MET values during the arm ergometer test were statistically lower in asthma patients with severe fatigue compared the patients without fatigue (p=0.046, 0.043 respectively).Dressing and grooming domains of HAQ were different (p<0.05) but other domains were similar. Although LCADL-physical and leisure subscores were similar (p>0.05), LCADL-self care, LCADL-domestic and LCADL-total score were significantly higher in patients with severe fatigue (p=0.003, p=0.015, p=0.010).

Conclusions: Fatigue seems a reason of arm exercise intolerance and impaired ADL in patients with asthma.There is need for studies effect of interventions related with management of fatigue on arm exercise tolerance and ADL.