Can fatigue predict walking capacity of patients with Parkinson’s disease?

Abstract

Although fatigue is an expressive symptom of Parkinson’s disease (PD), few studies have investigated the association between fatigue, mobility and walking capacity of these patients. Objective: To investigate whether fatigue is an independent factor associated with mobility and the walking capacity in patients with PD. Methods: Forty-eight patients with PD (22 with fatigue) were tested for mobility and their walking capacity: Timed Up and Go (TUG), 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT) at usual and fastest speed, and 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT). Fatigue was measured with Parkinson’s Fatigue Scale (PFS-16). Linear regression analysis was used to investigate if fatigue is an independent factor contributing to variance in mobility and walking capacity. Results: There was a positive correlation between PFS-16 and TUG (rs=0.385; p=0.007). There was a negative correlation between PFS-16 and 10MWT at comfortable (r=-0.385; p=0.007) and fast speeds (r=-0.396; p=0.005), and 6MWT (r=-0.472; p=0.001). Linear regression analysis revealed that fatigue did not explain the variance of TUG and 10MWT. PFS-16, age and section III of UPDRS explained 49.6% (adjusted R2; p<0.001) variance in the 6MWT, and fatigue was the most significant predictor (F=-32.1; p=0.022). Conclusions: Fatigue is an independent factor contributing to the distance covered during 6MWT in patients with PD. Our results highlight the importance of recognition and management of this symptom.

Physiological Benefits of High-intensity Interval Training for Individuals With Parkinson's Disease

“…26 There is an association between high fatigue levels in individuals with PD and decreased physical activity, including activities of daily living. 88,95 This suggests that sedentary levels will increase throughout the disease progression. 95 Links between fatigue and motor symptoms in PD have also been identified.…”

“…88,95 This suggests that sedentary levels will increase throughout the disease progression. 95 Links between fatigue and motor symptoms in PD have also been identified. 96,97 As motor symptoms worsen, non-motor symptoms such as chronic fatigue may progress as well.…”

“…1 Patients with PD frequently demonstrate a reduced exercise capacity or lower peak oxygen consumption (VO2max), which may be caused by increased sedentary levels resulting due to fatigue related motor symptoms. 79,95,105,233 Lower VO2max is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, a major cause of mortality in PD. 85,166 Exercise training is a recommended lifestyle intervention for patients with PD, with current guidelines advising ≥150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic exercise per week coupled with resistance and stretching exercises.…”

Functional mobility in Parkinson’s disease: associations with motor and non-motor symptoms

“…12 Depression and fatigue are two of these important nonmotor symptoms to investigate. Depression has been found to predict activities of daily living, 13 and fatigue was predictor of functional capacity 11 in individuals with PD.…”

“…9 However, few studies have investigated the relationship between non-motor symptoms and FM in individuals with PD. [10][11][12] In these studies, there was an isolated assessment of a non-motor symptom, 10,11 or non-motor symptoms were assessed in a generic way, without identifying which impairment among those had the greatest impact on FM. 12 Depression and fatigue are two of these important nonmotor symptoms to investigate.…”