Respiratory muscle strength and quality of life in children and adolescent with cystic fibrosis

ABSTRACT

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a multisystemic genetic disease characterized by chronic obstruction that, associated with other pulmonary changes, can compromise respiratory muscle strength (RMS) and, consequently, interfere with the performance of typical childhood activities, changing the quality of life(QOL) of this population. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between RMS and QOL of children and adolescents with CF. This is a cross-sectional study, which included patients without acute pulmonary exacerbation, aged between 6 and 14 years, from a reference center in Brazil. Anthropometric and RMS assessments were performed, using maximum inspiratory (MIP) and expiratory (MEP) pressures using digital manovacuometry (Globalmed® MVD300). The Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire was applied, a specific questionnaire to assess QOL in this disease, in versions for children (QOL-C) and for parents or guardians (QOL-P). The severity of the disease was classified according to the Schwachman Doeurshuk score (ESD). Data on colonization and genotype were consulted through the analysis of medical records. The data was analyzed using the SPSS version 20.0 for Windows software. After the Shapiro-Wilkt test, Pearson’s or Spearman’s correlation test was applied. Throughout the analysis, a significance level of 5% was adopted. Twenty-eight children (15 boys) participated in the study, with a mean age of 10.10 ± 1.79 years, who had a near-predicted RMS and QOL scores indicating good QOL. The ESD was negatively related to the digestive domain (p=0.03; rho=-0.400). MEP showed a negative correlation with the QOL-P body domain (p=0.002; rho=-0.426) and with the QOL-C treatment domain (p=0.01; rho=-0.453). MIP showed a positive correlation with the physical (p=0.03; rho=0.410), emotional (p=≤0.001; rho=0.573) and treatment (p=≤0.01; rho=-0.605) domains of the QOL-C. MIP also showed a positive correlation with the respiratory domain (p=0.01; rho=0.572) of the QOL-P. In conclusion, an association was identified between QOL and RMS domains, as well as with ESD and nutritional aspects. This sample showed higher than expected RMS values and good QOL.

Keywords |
Cystic Fibrosis; Muscle Strength; Quality of Life