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Physical activity measures in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: correlations between peak oxygen consumption, the physical functioning scale of the SF-36 questionnaire, and the number of steps from an activity meter
Peter C Rowe
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3586-2677
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Background most studies to assess effort intolerance in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) have used questionnaires. Few studies have compared questionnaires with objective measures like an actometer or an exercise test. Therefore three measures of physical activity in ME/CFS patients, being the physical functioning scale (PFS) of the SF-36, the number of steps/day (Steps) of an actometer and the %peak VO 2 of a cardiopulmonary stress test were compared.
Methods female ME/CFS patients were selected from a clinical database if the three types of measurements were available, and the interval between measurements was ≤ three months. Data of the three measures were compared by linear regression.
Results in 99 female patients the three different measures were linearly, significantly and positively correlated (PFS vs Steps, PFS vs %peak VO 2 and Steps vs %peak VO 2 : all P<0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that the relations between the three measures were not different in patients with versus without fibromyalgia and with versus without a maximal exercise effort (RER≥1.1). In 20 patients re-evaluated for symptom worsening, the mean of all three measures was significantly lower (P<0.0001), strengthening the observation of the relations between them. Despite the close correlation a large variation was observed between the three measures in individual patients.
Conclusions given the large variation in ME/CFS patients, the use of only one type of measurement is inadequate. Integrating the three modalities may be useful for patient care by detecting overt discrepancies and may aid study designs aimed at improving exercise capacity.
Keywords
SensewearTM armband, chronic fatigue syndrome, spiro-ergometry, peak VO2, SF 36 questionnaire, myalgic encephalitis
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Received 28 Apr, 2020
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Received 25 Apr, 2020
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On 16 Apr, 2020
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This preprint is under consideration at Journal of Translational Medicine. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research
Physical activity measures in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: correlations between peak oxygen consumption, the physical functioning scale of the SF-36 questionnaire, and the number of steps from an activity meter
Peter C Rowe
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3586-2677
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Under Review
Version 2
Posted 01 Jun, 2020
No community comments so far
Editor assigned
On 23 May, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 22 May, 2020
Editor invited
On 22 May, 2020
Community comments: 1
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 02 May, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 28 Apr, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 25 Apr, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 17 Apr, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 16 Apr, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 16 Apr, 2020
Editor assigned
On 09 Apr, 2020
Editor invited
On 08 Apr, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 06 Apr, 2020
First submitted
On 04 Apr, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background most studies to assess effort intolerance in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) have used questionnaires. Few studies have compared questionnaires with objective measures like an actometer or an exercise test. Therefore three measures of physical activity in ME/CFS patients, being the physical functioning scale (PFS) of the SF-36, the number of steps/day (Steps) of an actometer and the %peak VO 2 of a cardiopulmonary stress test were compared.
Methods female ME/CFS patients were selected from a clinical database if the three types of measurements were available, and the interval between measurements was ≤ three months. Data of the three measures were compared by linear regression.
Results in 99 female patients the three different measures were linearly, significantly and positively correlated (PFS vs Steps, PFS vs %peak VO 2 and Steps vs %peak VO 2 : all P<0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that the relations between the three measures were not different in patients with versus without fibromyalgia and with versus without a maximal exercise effort (RER≥1.1). In 20 patients re-evaluated for symptom worsening, the mean of all three measures was significantly lower (P<0.0001), strengthening the observation of the relations between them. Despite the close correlation a large variation was observed between the three measures in individual patients.
Conclusions given the large variation in ME/CFS patients, the use of only one type of measurement is inadequate. Integrating the three modalities may be useful for patient care by detecting overt discrepancies and may aid study designs aimed at improving exercise capacity.
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