Physical and functional follow-up of tuberculosis patients in initial intensive phase of treatment in Cameroon using the 6-min walk test

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate functional capacities of Cameroonian tuberculosis (TB) patients in initial intensive phase of treatment using the 6-min walk test (6MWT) and to compare them to an age-matched healthy group. Twenty-eight TB patients newly diagnosed and 19 healthy age-matched peoples participated in the study. Performance parameters were determined using the 6MWT. Anthropometric and cardiorespiratory parameters were measured at baseline and after 6MWT. Two months later, TB patients were submitted to the same evaluation. We found significant differences in anthropometric parameters between the two groups. The baseline cardiorespiratory parameters and performance characteristics of TB patients were lower than control group (571.7±121.0 m vs 841.6±53.0 m, P<0.0001 for 6-min walk distance (6MWD) and 18.1±2.8 mL/kg/min vs 24.3±1.2 mL/kg/min, P<0.001 for mean VO2 peak (peak oxygen consumption). Two months after, significant improvements were noted in anthropometric, cardiorespiratory and performance parameters except for bone mass and FEV1/FEV6 (forced expiratory volumes in 1 second/6 seconds) ratio. Significant correlations were found between the 2-min walked distance (P<0.0001, r=0.95), 4-min walked distance (P<0.0001, r=0.97) and 6MWD. In conclusion, TB patients have impaired physical functional capacity but they improved after 2 months of treatment. 6MWT can be a useful tool in the assessment of physical parameters and cardiorespiratory functional capacity rehabilitation of TB patients during the treatment.

Integrating screening for non-communicable diseases and their risk factors in routine tuberculosis care in Delhi, India: A mixed-methods study

“…This is in line with the evidence that suggests TB affects the physical functioning along with many other dimensions of life due to physical de-conditioning, muscle atrophy, and impaired lung function and gas exchange. [ 39 , 40 ] More than a quarter of TB patients in our study had central obesity which points towards increased risk for diabetes. [ 41 ]…”

Kesehatan Fisik pada Klien Tuberkulosis Paru dan Program Rehabilitasi: Kajian Literatur

“…Kesehatan fisik yang buruk pada pasien TB paru biasanya terjadi pada fase intensif. Perbaikan kesehatan fisik yang optimal dapat mulai terjadi pada fase lanjutan pengobatan apabila didukung dengan rehabilitasi (10,11).Program rehabilitasi paru saat ini merupakan intervensi yang diberikan pada pasien TB paru guna mengatasi permasalahan kesehatan khususnya kesehatan fisik pasien. Rehabilitasi paru yang dapat dilakukan seperti latihan fisik, latihan pernafasan, program pendidikan, terapi nutrisi dan intervensi psikologis (12).…”

Pulmonary rehabilitation and tuberculosis: a new approach for an old disease

“…TB may also influence other parts of the patient's life such as nutritional status, exercise tolerance, muscle strength, psychological status and quality of life (QOL) (3). In a group of 28 Cameroonian patients with TB, effort tolerance assessed by 6 Minutes Walk Test (6MWT) was decreased compared to control healthy subjects in the first phase of active disease, but after 2 months of specific TB drug therapy the physical capacity improved (4). The impact of TB on QOL can be assessed with different questionnaires: St. George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), World Health Organization QOL questionnaire (5), short-form 12v2 questionnaire (SF-12v2) (6) and clinical COPD questionnaire (CCQ) (7).…”