Search Results (2)

The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of a long-term rehabilitation on chronic fatigue and cardiorespiratory parameters in patients with chronic heart failure.
Material and methods. One hundred seventy patients with class III–IV (NYHA) chronic heart failure were examined. The study population was divided into two groups: long-term rehabilitation group and control group. They underwent cardiopulmonary exercise test and completed questionnaires on chronic fatigue (MFI- 20L, DUFS, and DEFS). Measurements were repeated 3 and 6 months after long-term complex rehabilitation.
Results. According to the data of MFI-20L, DUFS, and DEFS questionnaires, 170 patients (100%) with class III–IV (NYHA) chronic heart failure complained of fatigue. Overall daily fatigue was 56.8±28.5 points on a 100-point scale, and after 6-month rehabilitation, this parameter was statistically significantly reduced on all scales (P<0.05). Physical fatigue and self-care improved in controls. Cardiopulmonary exercise test showed that parameters of hyperventilation, ventilatory equivalents, and pCO₂ were significantly improved in rehabilitation group after 6 months as compared to baseline data (P<0.05), but not in the control group.
Conclusion. Patients with class III–IV (NYHA) chronic heart failure experience chronic fatigue, which reduces their motivation and self-care abilities. Long-term complex rehabilitation programs improve all parameters of chronic fatigue, respiratory efficiency, and prognostic indicator of chronic heart failure – ventilatory equivalent for carbon dioxide. Full article

The aim of the study. To evaluate the chronic fatigue and its relation to the function of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis in patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class III–IV chronic heart failure.
Material and methods. A total of 170 patients with NYHA functional class III–IV chronic heart failure completed MFI-20L, DUFS, and DEFS questionnaires assessing chronic fatigue and underwent echocardiography. Blood cortisol concentration was assessed at 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM, and plasma N-terminal brain natriuretic pro-peptide (NT-proBNP) concentration was measured at 8:00 AM. Neurohumoral investigations were repeated before cardiopulmonary exercise test and after it.
Results. The results of all questionnaires showed that 100% of patients with NYHA functional class III–IV heart failure complained of chronic fatigue. The level of overall fatigue was 54.5±31.5 points; physical fatigue – 56.8±24.6 points. Blood cortisol concentration at 8:00 AM was normal (410.1±175.1 mmol/L) in majority of patients. Decreased concentration was only in four patients (122.4±15.5 mmol/L); one of these patients underwent heart transplantation. In the afternoon, blood cortisol concentration was insufficiently decreased (355.6±160.3 mmol/L); reaction to a physical stress was attenuated (∆ 92.9 mmol/L). Plasma NTproBNP concentration was 2188.9±1852.2 pg/L; reaction to a physical stress was diminished (∆ 490.3 pg/L).
Conclusion. All patients with NYHA class III–IV heart failure complained of daily chronic fatigue. Insufficiently decreased blood cortisol concentration in the afternoon showed that in the presence of chronic fatigue in long-term cardiovascular organic disease, disorder of a hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis is involved. Full article