Functional capacity assessment and quality of life in patients with myelopathy assosciated to the HTLV-1

THESES

Functional capacity assessment and quality of life in patients with myelopathy assosciated to the HTLV-1 (Abstract)^*.Dissertation. Rio de Janeiro, 2009

^**Márcia da Silva Shubla

The human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I-associated myelopathy (HAM/TSP) is caused by HTLV-1 infection. It is endemic in Africa, Latin America and Japan. Spastic paraparesis usually associated with sphincters' disturbances represents the predominant clinical finding. Functional impairment compromises the patient's quality of life. Assessment measures for activities of daily life and disabilities are important in sense of to define specific and effective goals for interventions.

OBJECTIVE: To assess functional capacity of patients with HAM/TSP; to describe the functional capacity using the Functional Independence Measure (FIM); to demonstrate the application of Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) in gait assessment; to determine the prevalence of gait disturbances using Osame's Motor Disability Scale; to assess EDSS, FIM and Osame's scores in relation to a quality of life (indicator from the WHO).

METHOD: A descriptive, transversal study of 30 patients with HAM/TSP seen in the Neuroinfection outpatient clinic of the Hospital Universitário Gaffrèe e Guinle (UNIRIO), between February 2008 and February 2009. Patients were submitted to neurological examination and physiotherapeutic evaluation. EDSS, FIM and Osame's scale and the SF-36 survey were applied in all patients.

RESULTS: The studied group presented mean evolution time of 10.6 (SD±7.6) years. It represented 66% of the group. Dependence condition was found in 70%, 67% and 67% of the patients, using FIM, EDSS, and Osame scores, respectively. Coefficient kappa demonstrates a concordance among the instruments' scores.

CONCLUSION: The progressive, invalidating gait disturbance compromises the functional independence for the activities of daily life. The measurements used in this study describe the majority of the patients as dependent, and the impact of this dependency is showed in the quality of life score.

Key words: HTLV-1, myelopathy, tropical spastic paraparesis, incapacity.

**Rua Barão da Torre 19/101 - 22411-001 Rio de Janeiro RJ - Brasil. (E-mail: [e-mail])

*

Avaliação da capacidade funcional e qualidade de vida em pacientes com mielopatia associada ao HTLV-1 (Resumo). Dissertação de Mestrado. Escola de Medicina e Cirurgia da Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (Área de Neurologia), Rio de Janeiro RJ. Orientadora: Marzia Puccioni-Sohler.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  22 Sept 2010
• Date of issue
  Feb 2010