Factors associated with experience of fatigue, and functional limitations due to fatigue in patients with stable COPD.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the influence of selected physiological, psychological and situational factors on experience of fatigue, and functional limitations due to fatigue in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: In total 101 patients with COPD and 34 control patients were assessed for experience of fatigue, functional limitation due to fatigue (Fatigue Impact Scale), physiological [lung function, 6-minute walk distance (6MWD), body mass index (BMI), dyspnoea, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), surfactant protein D], psychological (anxiety, depression, insomnia), situational variables (age, sex, smoking, living alone, education), and quality of life.

Results: Fatigue was more common in patients with COPD than in control patients (72% versus 56%, p < 0.

Factors associated with low physical activity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Low physical activity (PA) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with poor prognosis. In addition, physical activity seems to be low early in the disease. The aim of this study was to describe the level of PA in patients with stable COPD and to explore factors associated with low PA, with a focus on fatigue, symptom burden and body composition

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 101 patients (52 women) with COPD were classified having low, moderate or high PA according to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short.

Symptom burden in stable COPD patients with moderate or severe airflow limitation.

Objectives: To describe a multidimensional symptom profile in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and determine whether symptom experience differed between patients with moderate or severe airflow limitations.

Background: Patients with severe airflow limitation experience numerous symptoms, but little is known regarding patients with moderate airflow limitation.

Methods: A multidimensional symptom profile (Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale) was assessed in 42 outpatients with moderate and 49 with severe airflow limitations.

Experience of fatigue, and its relationship to physical capacity and disease severity in men and women with COPD.

Introduction: Several differences have been reported in the clinical characteristics of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) between men and women. Differences have been found in the association between respiratory symptoms and lung function, and in the factors associated with dyspnea. This raises the question of whether there are differences between the sexes in the relationship between fatigue, the second most prevalent symptom, and the variables of physical capacity and disease severity.

The effect of modified constraint-induced movement therapy on spasticity and motor function of the affected arm in patients with chronic stroke.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of modified constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) in a real-world clinical setting on spasticity and functional use of the affected arm and hand in patients with spastic chronic hemiplegia.

Method: A prospective consecutive quasi-experimental study design was used. Twenty patients with spastic hemiplegia (aged 22-67 years) were tested before and after 2-week modified CIMT in an outpatient rehabilitation clinic and at 6 months.