Fatigability as a function of physical activity energy expenditure in older adults

Abstract

Increased fatigue is a predictor of morbidity and mortality in older adults. Fatigability defines a change in performance or self-reported fatigue in response to physical activity (PA). However, the relationship of fatigability to PA-related energy expenditure (PAEE) is unknown. Changes in performance, fatigue, and energy expenditure were measured simultaneously in 17 adults (11 females, 74-94 years old) performing eight standardized PA tasks with various energy expenditure requirements in a whole-room indirect calorimeter. Change in performance was objectively measured using a PA movement monitor and change in fatigue was self-reported on a seven-point scale for each task. Performance and perceived fatigability severity scores were calculated as a ratio of change in performance and fatigue, respectively, and PAEE. We found that change in both objective performance and self-reported fatigue were associated with energy expenditure (Spearman rho = -0.72 and -0.68, respectively, p < 0.001) on a task requiring relatively high level of energy expenditure. The performance and perceived fatigability severity scores were significantly correlated (rho = 0.77, p < 0.001) on this task. In summary, results of this proof of concept pilot study show that both perceived and performance fatigability severity scores are related to PAEE-induced fatigue on a task requiring relatively high level of energy expenditure. We conclude that fatigability severity is a valid measure of PAEE-induced fatigue in older adults.

Evaluation of Two Fatigability Severity Measures in Elderly Adults

“…Fatigability during other types of activity such as resistance training or cognitive exercise may be controlled using different mechanisms. It has recently been reported that, unlike for the walking activity described in this article, perceived and performance fatigability severity measures are not correlated for tasks that require low energy expenditure . In short, fatigability is a multidimensional construct, and the performance measures described in this article may not be able to measure aspects of fatigue related to psychological or behavioral factors.…”

Qualidade de vida de idosos submetidos à quimioterapia antineoplásica atendidos em um hospital de referência oncológica

“…Um estudo 27 que avaliou a fadiga em pacientes submetidos à quimioterapia identificou mais fadiga quando comparado ao grupo controle e mais sintomas depressivos, mesmo depois de decorrido um ano do tratamento. Segundo Buchowski et al 28 , a fadiga pode ser utilizada como preditor da morbidade e da mortalidade em adultos e é uma das causas da atividade física restrita, mostrando também que há uma correlação entre a fadiga autorrelatada e mudanças no desempenho.…”

Real-time Fatigue and Free-Living Physical Activity in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Cancer Survivors and Healthy Controls

“…Most measures of fatigability evaluate fatigue or change in self-reported fatigue (subjective component) in response to a defined objectively measured activity, such as the 6-minute walk. 23,24 Self-report measures of fatigability have also been published. 41 …”

“…While conceptual and operational definitions of the term are still evolving, most studies operationalize fatigability to include a subjective component (fatigue or change in perceived fatigue) in the context of performance on a standardized and/or objectively measured task. 23,24 As a result of this operational definition, fatigability testing most frequently occurs in a clinical and/or laboratory environment. Findings from these types of measures, while important, do not provide information regarding the interplay between fatigue and physical activity in a natural environment.…”