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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
161

Sledování posturálních a respiračních funkcí u pacientů s chronickou obstrukční plicní nemocí / Monitoring of postural and respiratory chang es in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Bělousovová, Anna January 2014 (has links)
Bibliographic identification BĚLOUSOVOVÁ, Anna. Monitoring of postural and respiratory changes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Prague: Charles University, 2. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, 2014. 66 p. Supervisor doc. PaedDr. Libuše Smolíková Ph.D. Abstract The thesis Monitoring of Postural and Respiratory Changes in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease summerises knowledge of etiology, etiopathogenesis and pathophysiology of the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It also contains chapters dealing with pathophysiology and changes of the breathing mechanics in COPD patients, changes of the spirometry results within the disease, chapters following posture and postural functions, dysfunctional breathing and alterations of the function of postural muscles and an increase of the work of breathing. In the practical part of the thesis, 18 patients was involved in kinesiological assessment, dynamic tests of the movement of the spine, an assesment of the pathological barriers of the cervical, thoracic spine and ribs according to Lewit, tests of the deep stabilizing system and tests of the quality of life - CAT and SGRQ. These data were statistically processed together with the spirometrical data of the patients. There were three groups...
162

Phenotyping of chronic respiratory diseases in the South of Vietnam

Chu Thi, Ha 25 June 2019 (has links) (PDF)
Chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) include chronic diseases involving the airways and other structures of the lung. In the current circumstance of Vietnam, people are exposed to numerous risk factors of CRD, such as heavy smoking, high frequency of pulmonary tuberculosis, chronic helminthiasis, allergic factors, migration and urbanization (the last associated with traffic-related pollution). The phenotype diagnoses should take into account the risk factors of each individual besides the clinical features, while the differential diagnoses mostly depend on the available techniques in each healthcare center. Our aim was to improve the differential diagnoses of the 3 most frequent CRDs: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma and COPD – asthma overlap syndrome (ACOS), in Vietnam. In the first part, we evaluated the prevalence of the allergen sensitization among patients with CRD, in regard to the urban and rural area in the South of Vietnam. House dust mites and cockroach droppings were the most frequent sensitizer. Compared with participants born in the urban setting, those born in the rural environment were less frequently sensitized and this protective effect disappeared in the case of migration from rural to urban areas. In the second part, we evaluated skin prick test as a method to screen dust mite sensitization in CRD in southern Vietnam. The data suggested that, in the present circumstance, skin prick test can be used to screen mite sensitization. In the third part, we evaluated the risk of mite sensitization in the native and migrant population, in regard to several environmental factors. Consistently with the hygiene hypothesis, compared to urban, exposure to high endotoxin concentration in rural was a protective factor against allergic sensitization. We reported for the first time that this effect was reversible among the migrants from rural to urban setting in association with lower endotoxin exposure. In the fourth part, we have defined asthma, COPD and ACOS based on clinical symptoms, cumulative smoking and airway expiratory flow with reversibility, on one side, and the age-related of the different phenotypes, on the other side. We hypothesized that the cumulative exposure to noxious particles should increase the age-related prevalence of COPD, while due to the immunosenescence process, the prevalence of IgE-mediated asthma should decrease with age, and ACOS prevalence being not related to age due to the combined mechanisms.  In conclusion, we showed in the South of Vietnam that:1) mites and cockroach allergens were the most frequent sensitizer in chronic respiratory diseases;2) the skin prick test to mite has been validated to screen mite sensitization;3) associated with a reduced level of endotoxin level, migration from rural to the urban setting was a risk factor of mite sensitization in chronic respiratory diseases;4) based on the clinical symptoms, spirometric values, and cumulative smoking, the diagnosis of asthma, COPD and ACOS have been made and their prevalence were 25, 42 and 33%, respectively. / Doctorat en Sciences biomédicales et pharmaceutiques (Médecine) / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished
163

Modelo experimental de indução de enfisema pulmonar por exposição à fumaça de cigarro. / Experimental model of pulmonary emphysema by exposure of cigarette smoke.

Kozma, Rodrigo de Las Heras 11 October 2012 (has links)
A Doença Pulmonar Obstrutiva Crônica (DPOC) destaca-se como um grave problema de saúde no mundo. O enfisema pulmonar, dentro do espectro das DPOC, caracteriza-se pelo alargamento dos espaços aéreos distais resultante da destruição do parênquima pulmonar. O tabagismo é considerado o principal fator relacionado ao surgimento da patologia. Considerando a escassez de aparelhos comercializados para exposição à fumaça de cigarro, bem como o elevado custo dos existentes, o presente projeto propôs um modelo experimental de enfisema por exposição à fumaça utilizando um novo aparato. Foram realizadas avaliações morfométricas e funcionais nos pulmões de ratos expostos à fumaça ou ao ar ambiente. Além disso, o peso dos animais foi aferido semanalmente. Os resultados indicaram alargamento dos espaços aéreos pulmonares, além de redução do ganho de peso nos animais expostos. Não houve diferenças funcionais entre os grupos controle e experimental. O trabalho objetivou o desenvolvimento de um aparato eficiente e menos custoso para estudos relacionados ao enfisema pulmonar. / The Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) stands out as a serious health problem in the world. The pulmonary emphysema, in the spectrum of COPD, has as main feature the enlargement of the airspaces distal resulting from destruction of lung parenchyma. Smoking is considered the main factor related to the development of pathology. Considering the lack of machines marketed for exposure to cigarette smoke, as well as the high cost of devices available, the currently project has proposed a experimental model of pulmonary emphysema induced by the use of a new apparatus. Were performed morphometric and functional measurements in the lung of rats exposed to cigarette smoke or clean air. Further, the animal weight was measured weekly. The results indicated enlargement of the pulmonary airspaces, as well as reduction of weight gain in animals exposed. There were no functional differences between control and experimental groups. The current study aimed to the development of an efficient and less costly apparatus for experimental studies related to the pulmonary emphysema.
164

KOL-patienters nutrition och sjuksköterskans omvårdnadsåtgärder : en litteraturöversikt / COPD-patients experienced problems with nutrition and the nursing care – : a literature review

Bygg, Erika, Morelius, Ellinor January 2019 (has links)
Bakgrund: Malnutrition är vanligt hos patienter med kroniskt obstruktiv lungsjukdom (KOL). Malnutrition hos patienter med KOL kan orsaka nedsatt immunförsvar, ökad dyspné, minskad livskvalité samt att KOL-sjukdomen riskerar att öka i allvarlighetsgrad samt ha ett snabbare sjukdomsförlopp. År 2030 bedöms KOL vara den tredje vanligaste sjukdomen i världen. Därför är det viktigt som sjuksköterska att ha kunskap i vilka omvårdnadsåtgärder som kan användas vid malnutrition hos KOL-patienter. Syfte: Syftet med denna litteraturöversikt var att sammanställa KOL-patienters upplevda problem vid nutrition samt vilka omvårdnadsåtgärder sjuksköterskan kan vidta vid malnutrition. Metod: Litteraturöversikt baserad på 15 vetenskapliga artiklar. Resultat: Det fanns många olika problem som KOL-patienter upplevde i samband med nutrition. Dessa faktorer kunde vara både fysiska och psykiska. Sjuksköterskan kunde som omvårdnadsåtgärd upprätta kontakt med dietist för individuella råd och åtgärder till patienten. Som sjuksköterska var den stödjande samt kunskapsförmedlande rollen viktig, likväl att ge egenvårdsråd utifrån patientens önskemål samt förutsättningar. Slutsats: Den problematik som KOL-patienter upplevde i relation till nutrition var individuell. Nutrition hos KOL-patienter var ett komplext område då det innefattade både fysiska och psykiska bekymmer. Det är viktigt att sjuksköterskan arbetar personcentrerat vid vård av KOL-patienter då patienterna upplever olika problemområden i samband med nutrition, detta för att ge en god och säker vård. / Background: Malnutrition is common in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Malnutrition in patients with COPD can cause impaired immune system, increased dyspnoea, decreased quality of life, and the COPD risk being increased in severity as well as having a faster disease course. In 2030, COPD is estimated to be the third most common disease in the world. Therefore, it is important as a nurse to have knowledge of which nurse care can be used in malnutrition in COPD patients. Aim: The aim of this literature review was to compile COPD patients' perceived problems with nutrition and what nurse care the nurse can take in malnutrition. Method: A literature review based on 15 scientific articles. Results: There were problems that occur for COPD patients that were caused according to their nutrition. These conditions could be both physical and psychological. The nurse could seek advice from a dietician to be informed of the best solution regarding nutritional needs of the patient. As a nurse it was important to pass on knowledge and give support to the patient whilst also advising on selfcare according to the patient's current condition and preferences. Conclusion: The variety of nutritional problems COPD patients face were highly individual and are therefore a complex subject as the effects are both physical and psychological. In general, the nurse should work closely with the patient as there can be nutrition related problems and in doing so, ensures appropriate and safe care.
165

Modelo experimental de doença pulmonar intersticial fibrosante associado à terapia celular utilizando células mononucleares de medula óssea / Fibrotic interstitial pulmonary disease: experimental model and bone marrow mononuclear cell therapy

Cabral, Rosa Maria 20 December 2007 (has links)
Doenças pulmonares intersticiais fibrosantes são doenças que afetam homens, mulheres e crianças, tem prognóstico ruim e os pacientes possuem sobrevida estimada entre 3 e 5 anos após a confirmação diagnóstica, sobretudo os portadores de Fibrose pulmonar idiopática. Estudos recentes demonstram a capacidade das células-tronco em se diferenciar em diferentes linhagens celulares e tecidos, como já comprovado em órgãos como coração, fígado, trato gastrointestinal, sistema nervoso e pulmão. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram os de estabelecer a espécie suína como modelo experimental e utilizar a terapia celular experimentalmente como possibilidade de estudo para tratamento das doenças pulmonares intersticiais fibrosantes. Para estabelecer o modelo experimental e induzir a doença nos dois grupos de animais estudados (grupos tratado e controle) foi utilizado sulfato de bleomicina pela via intratraqueal em procedimento único. Após a instalação da doença, os animais dos grupos tratado e controle foram submetidos a tomografia computadorizada de alta resolução (TCAR); um grupo tratado com terapia celular e após noventa dias os dois grupos reavaliados com TCAR antes da eutanásia, totalizando para os dois grupos, cento e oitenta dias de doença instalada. As análises tomográficas mostraram que o tempo para que a doença intersticial seja estabelecida ocorre até três meses após a infusão de bleomicina. As provas histológicas corroboram a viabilidade do modelo testado e as análises imunohistoquímicas sugerem a migração das células mononucleares de medula óssea para os pulmões, bem como a presença de populações celulares que indicam provável reestruturação do parênquima pulmonar. / Fibrotic Interstitial pulmonary illnesses affect men, women and children, and presents bad prognostic, 3-5 years depending on the diagnostic confirmation, mainly in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Recent studies demonstrate the capacity of the stem cells in differentiating into different cellular lineages and different tissues, as in heart, liver, gastrointestinal, nervous system and lung. The objectives of this study were to investigate the possibility to consider the swine as experimental model of fibrotic pulmonary disease and experimental stem cell therapy. Bleomycin sulphate was injected into the trachea to induce the pulmonary disease in control and treatment groups. High resolution computed scan (TCAR) was carried out in both groups after the confirmation of the disease. The tomographic analyses showed that the interstitial illness was established after three months of the bleomicine infusion. Histologic investigation revealed the viability of the tested model and the imunohistochemical analyses suggest the migration of the mononuclear cells to the lungs, as well as the presence of new cellular populations that would indicate probable reorganization of the pulmonary parenchyma.
166

Ehokardiografska procena funkcije miokarda leve komore i prisustva plućne hipertenzije kod bolesnika sa hroničnom opstruktivnom bolesti pluća / Echocardiografic assasment of left ventricular funcion and pulmonary hypertension in COPD

Milovančev Aleksandra 11 February 2015 (has links)
<p>Bolesti kardiovaskularnog sistema su vodeći uzrok smrtnosti među pacijentima sa poremećajem plućne funkcije. Poznato je da je plućna hipertenzija i posledična insuficijencija desne srčane komore često pratilac te&scaron;ke hronične opstruktivne bolesti pluća (HOBP). Međutim učestalost insuficijencije leve komore u poslednje vreme je predmet brojnih istraživanja i srčana insuficijencija je jo&scaron; uvek nedovoljno ispitana kod bolesnika sa HOBP. Cilj ove doktorske disertacije je ispitati funkciju leve komore i prisustvo plućne hipertenzije kod bolesnika sa HOBP. Materijal i metode : Istraživanjem je obuhvaćeno 120 ispitanika koji su prema GOLD kriterijumima podeljeni u četiri grupe po 30 bolesnika za svaki od četiri stadijuma bolesti. Svim bolesnicima je urađena spiropletizmografija i ehokardiografija. Rezultati : Analizom dobijenih vrednosti parametara (udarni volumen (SV) i njegov indeks (SVI), ejekciona frakcija (EF), frakcija skraćenja) sistolne funkcije miokarda leve komore dokazali smo da postoji sistolna disfunkcija miokarda leve komore kod bolesnika sa HOBP. Sa napredovanjem bolesti opadaju i vrednosti SV i SVI. Vrednosti ejekcione frakcije takođe opadaju sa porastom stepena HOBP. Analizom parametara dijastolne funkcije kod bolesika sa HOBP dokazali smo sa postoji dijastolna disfunkcija leve komore. Ispitivanjem transmitranog protoka i kontinuiranim i tkivnim doplerom registruju se smanjene srednje vrednosti vrednosti E/A i E&#39;/ A&#39;odnosa i u svim stadijumima bolesti. Ispitivanjem prisustva plućne hipertenzije dokazali smo da je sistolni pritisak u desnoj komori (RVSP) bio najniži u početnim stadijumima HOBP, postepeno raste sa težinom bolesti i najveći vrednosti se beleže u četvrtom stadijumu bolesti. Visoka prevalenca funkcionalnih promena na srcu koje smo dokazali u na&scaron;em istraživanju treba da ukaže na potrebu ehokardiografije u otkrivanju ovih poremećaja u HOBP.</p> / <p>Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death among patients with impaired lung function. It is known that pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure are often companion of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Left ventricular dysfunction is still not well studied and it is the subject of numerous studies in patients with COPD in recent years. The aim of this dissertation is to examine the function of left ventricle and the presence of pulmonary hypertension in patients with COPD. Materials and Methods: The study included 120 patients who meet the GOLD criteria for COPD. They were divided into four groups of 30 patients for each of the four stages of the disease. All patients underwent echocardiography and spiropletismography. Results: Analysis of the obtained values of the systolic function parameters (stroke volume (SV) and it&rsquo;s index (SVI), ejection fraction (EF), fractional shortening) show impaired systolic left ventricular function in patients with COPD. With disease progression SV and SVI decrease. With increased severity of COPD the values of ejection fraction decreases. We showed diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle in COPD patients. Transmitral continuous flow Doppler and tissue Doppler recorded reduced values of the mean E / A and E &#39;/ A&#39; in all stages of the disease. Examining the presence of pulmonary hypertension, we have shown that the systolic pressure in the right ventricle (RVSP) was the lowest in the early stages of COPD, gradually increases with the severity of disease and the highest value was recorded in the fourth stage of the disease. The high prevalence of functional changes in the heart that we have proved in our research highlights the need for echocardiography in the detection of these disorders in COPD.</p>
167

Air pollution and mortality : an investigation into the lag structure between exposure to air pollution, temperature and mortality from pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, & ischaemic heart disease

Gittins, Matthew January 2016 (has links)
Introduction: The association between daily air pollution exposure and risk of mortality is well established. Few studies have investigated in detail the associations beyond a seven day lag. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the change in risk across longer (30 day) periods post exposure for three specific causes of death: pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and ischaemic heart disease (IHD). Methods: Daily Scottish mortality data (1980-2011) was matched to measurements from local fixed site pollution (Black smoke, PM10, PM2.5, SO2, & NO2) and temperature monitors. Exposure on subjects' 'day of death' was compared with control days in a time-stratified case-crossover analysis. Exposure effects on 30 days prior to day of death were modelled using distributed lag non-linear, lag stratified, and cubic distributed lag models. Matching hospital admissions data inferred subject location during exposure, further analyses investigated extreme outliers and missing data using multiple imputation techniques. The analysis accounted for several confounders including accurately modelling temperature relationships unique for each cause of death. Results: Of the 919,301 deaths, 20% were classified as being caused by pneumonia, 9.5% as COPD, and 30% as IHD in the 'any' cause of death field. Non-linear effects for temperature and linear effects for the pollutants were present across all 30 days. Temperature-mortality was observed to be U-shaped at shorter lags. Consistently increased risk occurred for longer in cold temperatures with 1oC increase (30 days lag) = %RR -0.35% Pneumonia, -0.62% COPD, and -0.26% IHD. PM2.5 on all three outcomes, and all pollutants on COPD showed the greatest effect sizes. In general, COPD risk only occurred after a delay, peaking between 12-18 days. COPD risk due to PM2.5 was immediate (%RR (95% C.I.) = 1.05% (0.14%,2.01%)) and lasted the full 30 days. Pneumonia risk often reported the shortest lag of 10-15 days, whereas IHD risk occurred 2 days after exposure but lasted the remaining 30 days. There was some evidence especially for pneumonia of a smaller association between air pollution on mortality when subjects included were present in hospital. A simulation study indicated slight improvement in accuracy when 'multiple imputation' was performed compared to 'complete cases' analysis; though both techniques reported similarly underestimated effect estimates. Extreme outliers in the main analysis of pollution exposure did not appear to have a strong influence on the risk. However, large variability between monitor measurements of pollution exposure was present and appeared to be influencing the results. Conclusion: This study provides additional evidence on the link between air pollution, and temperature, and acute mortality. Particular focus was on three causes of death (pneumonia, COPD, and IHD) that are shown to be influenced by air pollution in subtly different ways. Results also indicated that the 'true' effect of air pollution on mortality might be greater than shown by mortality studies which do not use hospital admission location during exposure into account.
168

Relação entre a massa livre de gordura e a hiperinsuflação pulmonar dinâmica durante o exercício em portadores de doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica

Silva, Leonardo Silveira da January 2013 (has links)
Introdução: A característica clínica principal da DPOC é a intolerância ao exercício físico. O mecanismo dessa limitação é complexo e multifatorial. Os principais mecanismos considerados responsáveis são a hiperinsuflação pulmonar dinâmica (HD) e disfunção muscular periférica. A hipótese principal do presente estudo é que a diminuição da massa livre de gordura (MLG) nesses pacientes, além de diretamente contribuir para redução da capacidade aeróbia, poderia contribuir indiretamente causando acentuação da HD durante o exercício. Objetivo: Investigar se a quantidade de MLG tem efeitos diretos na hiperinsuflação pulmonar dinâmica, durante o exercício em pacientes com DPOC. Métodos: 38 pacientes em estádio moderado a grave realizaram teste de exercício cardiopulmonar incremental até o limite da tolerância com medidas seriadas de capacidade inspiratória (CI). A MLG foi medida pelo teste de bioimpedância elétrica de corpo inteiro. Foram coletados também dados de função pulmonar (espirometria). Resultados: A média de idade dos pacientes foi de 66,5 ± 7,3 anos de idade, com média de VEF1 de 0,98 ± 0.05L (42 ± 15% do previsto). Valores de CI no pico do exercício (uma variável inversamente relacionada com os volumes pulmonares operacionais, ou seja, quanto maior a CI menor é hiperinflação pulmonar) foram significativamente (p <0,05) correlacionados com a CI de repouso (r = 0,78), VEF1 (r = 0,66), CVF (r = 0,56), MLG (r = 0,46) e com o índice de massa livre de gordura (IMLG) (r = 0,39). No entanto, na análise multivariada apenas o VEF1 e a CI em repouso permaneceram preditivos da CI de pico de exercício. A CI de pico foi um preditor significativo da capacidade aeróbia máxima. Conclusão: A MLG apresentou relação direta com as medidas de hiperinsuflação dinâmica durante o exercício. Contudo, a associação não se manteve quando foram feitos ajustes para indicadores de limitação do fluxo aéreo expiratório (VEF1) e hiperinflação pulmonar em repouso (CI de repouso). / Purposes: Investigate if the amount of fat free mass (FFM) has direct effects in dynamic hyperinflation during exercise in COPD patients. Methods: 38 patients with moderate to severe COPD performed treadmill incremental cardiopulmonary exercise test to the limit of tolerance with serial measurements of inspiratory capacity (IC). FFM was measured by whole-body bioelectrical impedance. Results: Patients were 66.5±7.3 years-old with mean FEV1 of 0.98±0.05L (42±15% of predicted). Peak exercise values of IC (a variable inversely related with operational lung volumes, i.e. the greater IC lower is pulmonary hyperinflation) was significantly (p<0.05) correlated with IC at rest (r=0.78), FEV1 (r=0.66), FVC (r=0.56), FFM (r=0.46) and FFM index (r=0.39). However, in multivariable analyzes only FEV1 and IC at rest remained predictive of peak IC. Peak IC was a significant predictor of peak aerobic capacity. Conclusion: FFM was directly related with measurements of dynamic hyperinflation. Nonetheless, this association disappeared when adjustments were made for indicators of expiratory airflow limitation (FEV1) and lung hyperinflation at rest (rest IC).
169

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN DISPENSING CHANNEL AND CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISORDER EXACERBATIONS AMONG MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES

Prather, April S. 01 January 2018 (has links)
Elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may be at increased risk of exacerbation due to physical and cognitive deficits that make proper inhaled medication adherence more difficult despite consistent medication access. This retrospective study utilized administrative medical and pharmacy claims data to examine the likelihood of having a COPD exacerbation requiring acute medical care by means of an emergency room visit or hospitalization in elderly patients receiving maintenance COPD medications from mail order and retail pharmacies. It was hypothesized that mail order patients would be more likely to experience exacerbations despite differences in medication access when compared to retail patients. The primary outcome of interest was exacerbation frequency expressed as the incidence density rate, and the secondary outcome was the proportion of days covered (PDC). The incidence rate ratio for acute exacerbations was not significantly different for mail order and retail groups, indicating patients using mail-order pharmacies were not significantly more likely to experience an exacerbation requiring acute medical care. Despite insignificant differences in incidence rates, mail order patients had significantly higher adherence rates.
170

Fatigue, functional status, health and pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Theander, Kersti January 2007 (has links)
The aim of this thesis was to describe fatigue, functional limitations due to fatigue and health in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as to compare patients with individuals from the general population and to test if pulmonary rehabilitation can reduce fatigue and functional limitations, and thus improve health. A further aim was to test the Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS) among patients with COPD. Two studies (I, II) had a descriptive comparative design with data from 36 and 151 patients with COPD respectively, and 37 and 95 individuals respectively, randomly selected from the general population. One study (III) was a randomised pre-test post-test study with 12 patients with COPD randomised to 12 weeks’ pulmonary rehabilitation and 14 patients in a control group. In a further study (IV), the FIS was tested for validity and reliability among 296 patients with COPD who reported fatigue. Assessments: Structured questions frequency, duration and severity of fatigue, functional limitations due to fatigue with FIS, six minutes’ walking distance, hand grip strength, functional performance and satisfaction with Canadian Occupational Performance Measure and health with St George’s Hospital Respiratory Questionnaire and Short Form-36. Almost half of the patients with COPD had a problem with fatigue every day and experienced fatigue as a severe symptom. More than 44% reported that fatigue was one of the worst symptoms. The experience of fatigue was related to the patients’ functional performance and health perceptions. Patients with COPD experienced a higher frequency, longer daily duration and greater severity of fatigue than individuals from the general population. After a 12 week pulmonary rehabilitation programme, there were no statistically significant differences between the patients randomised to the rehabilitation group and those in the control group. The patients in the rehabilitation group improved walking distances, performance and satisfaction with regard to their own selected activities compared with baseline. Confirmatory factor analysis on the three-factor model proposed for FIS showed that the fit of the model was not acceptable. Further validation of the FIS resulted in a removal of 15 items (FIS-25) and support for Pipers´ theoretical framework of subjective manifestations of fatigue including physical, emotional and cognitive dimensions and a general behavioural factor. The internal consistency, sensitivity and stability correlations of FIS-25 were satisfactory. In conclusion, fatigue is a major concern among patients with COPD, impacting on functioning and health. Interventions with 12 weeks’ pulmonary rehabilitation might not be effective enough to reduce fatigue and the functional limitations due to fatigue. More research is needed to solve the symptom burden of fatigue and its impact on functioning and health in patients with COPD.

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