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Perception of fatigue and quality of life in patients with COPD.
- Source :
-
Chest [Chest] 1998 Oct; Vol. 114 (4), pp. 958-64. - Publication Year :
- 1998
-
Abstract
- Introduction: Although dyspnea is considered the primary activity-limiting symptom in patients with COPD, other symptoms, such as fatigue, are frequently reported. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between fatigue and pulmonary function, exercise tolerance, depression, and quality of life in patients with COPD.<br />Methods: Forty-one patients (age = 62+/-8 years; FEV1 = 1.08+/-0.55 L; FEV1 percent predicted = 35.8+/-17%) from two sites participated in the study. Spirometric measures of pulmonary function were carried out in each patient. The Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory was used to measure five subscales of fatigue: general, physical and mental fatigue, reduction in activity, and reduction in motivation. The St. George Respiratory Questionnaire, used to measure quality of life, has three subscale dimensions (symptom, activity, and impact), as well as an overall or total quality of life score. Depression was measured with the Centers of Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. In 19 patients, exercise tolerance was determined with the 6-min walking distance.<br />Results: General fatigue correlated with FEV1, percent predicted (r = -0.32, p < 0.05), exercise tolerance (r = -0.55, p < 0.05), depression (r = 0.44, p < 0.01), and overall quality of life (r = 0.75, p < 0.01). Among the dimensions of fatigue, depression correlated with general and mental fatigue only. Physical dimensions of fatigue correlated with an increase in the severity of pulmonary impairment and reduction in exercise tolerance. The cognitive components of fatigue, such as reduction in motivation and mental fatigue, were not found to be highly correlated with physical dimensions of quality of life. All five subscales of fatigue showed relationship to the functional impact dimension and total impairment score in quality of life.<br />Conclusions: These data show a relationship between dimensions of fatigue and pulmonary function, exercise tolerance, and quality of life in COPD. Based on these results, fatigue is an important symptom requiring evaluation and management in patients with COPD. These data clarified also the relationship between depression and fatigue in this patient population.
- Subjects :
- Exercise Tolerance
Fatigue etiology
Fatigue physiopathology
Female
Humans
Lung Diseases, Obstructive physiopathology
Male
Middle Aged
Respiratory Function Tests
Severity of Illness Index
Surveys and Questionnaires
Fatigue psychology
Lung Diseases, Obstructive complications
Perception
Quality of Life
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0012-3692
- Volume :
- 114
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Chest
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 9792561
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.114.4.958