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Fatigue Scores (fatigue + score)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	100%

Selected Abstracts

Association between quality of life scores and short-term outcome after surgery for cancer of the oesophagus or gastric cardia

BRITISH JOURNAL OF SURGERY (NOW INCLUDES EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SURGERY), Issue 12 2005
J. M. Blazeby
Background: Evidence suggests that baseline quality of life (QOL) scores are independently prognostic for survival in patients with cancer, but the role of QOL data in predicting short-term outcome after surgery is uncertain. This study assessed the association between QOL scores and short-term outcomes after surgery for oesophageal and gastric cancer. Methods: Consecutive patients selected for oesophagectomy or total gastrectomy between November 2000 and May 2003 completed the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer's quality of life questionnaire, QLQ-C30. Multivariable regression models, adjusting for known clinical risk factors, were used to investigate relationships between QOL scores, major morbidity, hospital stay and survival status at 6 months. Results: Of 130 patients, 121 completed the questionnaire (response rate 93·1 per cent). There were 29 major complications (24·0 per cent) and 22 patients (18·2 per cent) died within 6 months of operation. QOL scores were not associated with major morbidity but were significantly related to survival status at 6 months after adjusting for known clinical risk factors. A worse fatigue score of 10 points (scale 0,100) corresponded to an increase in the odds of death within 6 months of surgery of 37·4 (95 per cent confidence interval (c.i.) 12·4 to 67·8) per cent (P = 0·002). Pretreatment social function scores were moderately associated with hospital stay (P = 0·021); a reduction in social function by 10 points corresponded to an increase in hospital stay of 0·93 (95 per cent c.i. 0·12 to 1·74) days. Conclusion: QOL scores supplement standard staging procedures for oesophageal and gastric cancer by providing prognostic information, but they do not contribute to perioperative risk assessment. Copyright © 2005 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Investigation into the nutritional status, dietary intake and smoking habits of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

JOURNAL OF HUMAN NUTRITION & DIETETICS, Issue 1 2004
W. J. Cochrane
Abstract Background and aims Weight loss and reduced fat-free mass are prevalent amongst patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the causes of this weight loss are not clear. The aims of this study are to investigate the factors affecting body weight and dietary intake in a group of outpatients with COPD, and to investigate any differences between adequately nourished and malnourished patients. Methods In 103 stable outpatients, nutritional status was assessed using Body Mass Index (BMI) and upper arm anthropometry. Lung function, smoking status, exercise tolerance, dietary intake, dietary problems and health-related quality of life were assessed. Patients were classed as either adequately nourished or malnourished. Results Twenty-three per cent of subjects were classed as malnourished. The malnourished subjects had lower lung function measurements, suffered more dietary problems and had lower nutritional intake compared with the adequately nourished subjects. They also had poorer fatigue scores. In linear regression analysis, the factors that had the most effect on BMI were a low transfer factor, presence of early satiety, and being a current smoker. Conclusion Important differences were found between adequately nourished and malnourished subjects. These differences move us closer to understanding how best to screen and treat this group of patients. [source]

Neuroactive steroids and fatigue severity in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis and hepatitis C

NEUROGASTROENTEROLOGY & MOTILITY, Issue 6 2008
S. Ahboucha
Abstract, Fatigue is one of the most common non-specific symptoms associated with several disease states including liver diseases. Recently, it was reported that levels of progesterone metabolites such as allopregnanolone (3,,5,-tetrahydroprogesterone; 3,,5,-THP) and isopregnanolone (3,,5,-THP) were increased in plasma of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. We hypothesize that THP metabolites might be associated with fatigue commonly observed in chronic liver diseases. We evaluated fatigue scores and plasma levels of five progesterone metabolites in 16 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), 12 patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and 11 age-matched controls. The fatigue impact scale (FIS) ratio was significantly increased (P < 0.01) in patients with PBC and CHC compared to controls. Plasma levels of 3,,5,-THP and pregnanolone (3,,5,-THP) were significantly increased in PBC and CHC patients. The other progesterone metabolites, i.e. 3,,5,-THP, 3,,5,-THP and 3,,5,-tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone were either undetectable or detected only in some patients. Plasma levels of 3,,5,-THP and 3,,5,-THP were found to be significantly higher in patients with fatigue (P < 0.05), while those of patients without fatigue were not significantly different from controls. Both 3,,5,-THP and 3,,5,-THP are positive allosteric modulators of the gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA-A) receptor and readily cross the blood,brain barrier. The present preliminary findings suggest that increased inhibition through GABA-A receptors due to the accumulation of neuroinhibitory steroids may represent an important pathophysiological mechanism of fatigue in chronic liver diseases. [source]

A randomized, controlled trial of aerobic exercise for treatment-related fatigue in men receiving radical external beam radiotherapy for localized prostate carcinoma

CANCER, Issue 3 2004
M.D., Phyllis M. Windsor M.Sc.
Abstract BACKGROUND Advice to rest and take things easy if patients become fatigued during radiotherapy may be detrimental. Aerobic walking improves physical functioning and has been an intervention for chemotherapy-related fatigue. A prospective, randomized, controlled trial was performed to determine whether aerobic exercise would reduce the incidence of fatigue and prevent deterioration in physical functioning during radiotherapy for localized prostate carcinoma. METHODS Sixty-six men were randomized before they received radical radiotherapy for localized prostate carcinoma, with 33 men randomized to an exercise group and 33 men randomized to a control group. Outcome measures were fatigue and distance walked in a modified shuttle test before and after radiotherapy. RESULTS There were no significant between group differences noted with regard to fatigue scores at baseline (P = 0.55) or after 4 weeks of radiotherapy (P = 0.18). Men in the control group had significant increases in fatigue scores from baseline to the end of radiotherapy (P = 0.013), with no significant increases observed in the exercise group (P = 0.203). A nonsignificant reduction (2.4%) in shuttle test distance at the end of radiotherapy was observed in the control group; however, in the exercise group, there was a significant increase (13.2%) in distance walked (P = 0.0003). CONCLUSIONS Men who followed advice to rest and take things easy if they became fatigued demonstrated a slight deterioration in physical functioning and a significant increase in fatigue at the end of radiotherapy. Home-based, moderate-intensity walking produced a significant improvement in physical functioning with no significant increase in fatigue. Improved physical functioning may be necessary to combat radiation fatigue. Cancer 2004. © 2004 American Cancer Society. [source]