Astımlı Hastalarda ve Sağlıklı Kişilerde Yorgunluk Düzeyinin Karşılaştırılması

Abstract

Dyspnea and fatigue are the most important symptoms of bronchial asthma. There are few studies investigating the perception of fatigue level between adults with bronchial asthma and healthy individuals. The purpose of this study was to compare fatigue perception between patients with bronchial asthma and healthy subjects. Twenty-six patients with bronchial asthma and 26 healthy subjects were included in the study. Subjects' demographics, physical characteristics and pulmonary function test results were recorded. Inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength, peripheral muscle strength, functional capacity, physical activity level, dyspnea and fatigue perception, anxiety and depression level, and asthma spesific quality of life were evaluated. Physical and demographic characteristics were similar in patients with asthma and healthy subjects (p>0.05). The FEV1, inspiratory muscle strength, dominant and non-dominant side knee extensors' muscle strength and functional capacity of patients with asthma were significantly lower than those of the healthy subjects' (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in physical activity level in both groups (p>0.05). Dyspnea and fatigue perception, anxiety and depression levels of patients with asthma were significantly higher than those of healthy subjects' (p<0.05). In conclusion, pulmonary function, respiratory and peripheral muscle strength, functional capacity, dyspnea and fatigue perception, quality of life, anxiety and depression levels are affected by the illness. These results will be a good guide in terms of planning studies which research the effectiveness of pulmonary rehabilitation programs for patients with asthma.