Quality of life, disability, and clinical variables in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

ABSTRACT Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a motor neuron disease that results in a progressive increase in dysfunctions, limitations and restrictions over time, which can impact on quality of life (QoL). Therefore, expanding knowledge on QoL and possible factors associated with AL...

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Main Authors: Mariana Asmar Alencar, Izaura Monique Moura da Silva, Stéfanie Marcelle Hilário, Marcela Ferreira de Andrade Rangel, Juliana Silva Abdo, Caroline Martins de Araújo, Leonardo Cruz de Souza
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Thieme Revinter Publicações 2021-12-01
Series:Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria
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Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0004-282X2021005028205&tlng=en
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author Mariana Asmar Alencar
Izaura Monique Moura da Silva
Stéfanie Marcelle Hilário
Marcela Ferreira de Andrade Rangel
Juliana Silva Abdo
Caroline Martins de Araújo
Leonardo Cruz de Souza
author_facet Mariana Asmar Alencar
Izaura Monique Moura da Silva
Stéfanie Marcelle Hilário
Marcela Ferreira de Andrade Rangel
Juliana Silva Abdo
Caroline Martins de Araújo
Leonardo Cruz de Souza
author_sort Mariana Asmar Alencar
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a motor neuron disease that results in a progressive increase in dysfunctions, limitations and restrictions over time, which can impact on quality of life (QoL). Therefore, expanding knowledge on QoL and possible factors associated with ALS can enable the development of actions to ensure greater wellbeing for the population. Objective: To investigate QoL in ALS and determine associations with demographic, functional and clinical aspects. Methods: Forty-five individuals with ALS (56.4±11.1 years) participated in the study. Demographic, clinical and functional aspects were investigated. Functioning and QoL were assessed using disease-specific tools (ALS Functional Ranting Scale-Revised/ALSFRS-R and ALS Assessment Questionnaire/ALSAQ-40). Fatigue was assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale. Descriptive, correlation and stepwise multiple linear regression analyses were performed with the aid of the SPSS. Results: The mean ALSAQ-40 score was 279.0±118.3. QoL was significantly worse among women (p=0.001) and poor QoL was associated with the inability to walk (p=0.014), pain (p=0.021) and disease severity (p≤0.002). QoL was strongly correlated with the ALSFRS-R score (r=-0.82). Moderate to weak correlations were found for mobility [turning in bed (r=-0.62), locomotion (r=-0.33) and sit to stand (r=-0.40)], strength (r=-0.49), fatigue (r=0.35) and pain (r=-0.32) (p<0.03). The regression analysis revealed that the ALSFRS-R score (β=-0.76; p=0.00) and fatigue (β=0.20; p=0.04) were predictors of QoL. Conclusions: QoL was worse in women, older people, severe stages of ALS, patients with impaired mobility, those with a poorer physical performance and those who reported pain. Functional status and fatigue are predictors of QoL in ALS.
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spelling doaj-art-d9b058b95dfc41ec8e83cfb8d95bff4a2025-08-20T02:03:50ZengThieme Revinter PublicaçõesArquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria1678-42272021-12-0110.1590/0004-282x-anp-2021-0201Quality of life, disability, and clinical variables in amyotrophic lateral sclerosisMariana Asmar Alencarhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-3881-5283Izaura Monique Moura da Silvahttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6100-9162Stéfanie Marcelle Hiláriohttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-8851-5353Marcela Ferreira de Andrade Rangelhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0897-2133Juliana Silva Abdohttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5023-2294Caroline Martins de Araújohttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-8866-0374Leonardo Cruz de Souzahttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5027-9722ABSTRACT Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a motor neuron disease that results in a progressive increase in dysfunctions, limitations and restrictions over time, which can impact on quality of life (QoL). Therefore, expanding knowledge on QoL and possible factors associated with ALS can enable the development of actions to ensure greater wellbeing for the population. Objective: To investigate QoL in ALS and determine associations with demographic, functional and clinical aspects. Methods: Forty-five individuals with ALS (56.4±11.1 years) participated in the study. Demographic, clinical and functional aspects were investigated. Functioning and QoL were assessed using disease-specific tools (ALS Functional Ranting Scale-Revised/ALSFRS-R and ALS Assessment Questionnaire/ALSAQ-40). Fatigue was assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale. Descriptive, correlation and stepwise multiple linear regression analyses were performed with the aid of the SPSS. Results: The mean ALSAQ-40 score was 279.0±118.3. QoL was significantly worse among women (p=0.001) and poor QoL was associated with the inability to walk (p=0.014), pain (p=0.021) and disease severity (p≤0.002). QoL was strongly correlated with the ALSFRS-R score (r=-0.82). Moderate to weak correlations were found for mobility [turning in bed (r=-0.62), locomotion (r=-0.33) and sit to stand (r=-0.40)], strength (r=-0.49), fatigue (r=0.35) and pain (r=-0.32) (p<0.03). The regression analysis revealed that the ALSFRS-R score (β=-0.76; p=0.00) and fatigue (β=0.20; p=0.04) were predictors of QoL. Conclusions: QoL was worse in women, older people, severe stages of ALS, patients with impaired mobility, those with a poorer physical performance and those who reported pain. Functional status and fatigue are predictors of QoL in ALS.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0004-282X2021005028205&tlng=enAmyotrophic Lateral SclerosisMotor Neuron DiseaseQuality of Life, Rehabilitation
spellingShingle Mariana Asmar Alencar
Izaura Monique Moura da Silva
Stéfanie Marcelle Hilário
Marcela Ferreira de Andrade Rangel
Juliana Silva Abdo
Caroline Martins de Araújo
Leonardo Cruz de Souza
Quality of life, disability, and clinical variables in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Motor Neuron Disease
Quality of Life, Rehabilitation
title Quality of life, disability, and clinical variables in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
title_full Quality of life, disability, and clinical variables in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
title_fullStr Quality of life, disability, and clinical variables in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
title_full_unstemmed Quality of life, disability, and clinical variables in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
title_short Quality of life, disability, and clinical variables in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
title_sort quality of life disability and clinical variables in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
topic Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Motor Neuron Disease
Quality of Life, Rehabilitation
url http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0004-282X2021005028205&tlng=en
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