Global Advanced Research Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences (GARJMMS) ISSN: 2315-5159
August 2014 Vol. 3(8), pp. 190-195
Copyright © 2014 Global Advanced Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Association between peripheral oxygen saturation during the shuttle walk test and quality of life in patients with chronic pulmonary obstructive disease

Fernanda Dultra Dias MSc¹, Eloisa Sanches Pereira do Nascimento MSc², Karina Maria Cancelliero-Gaiad PhD³, Evelim Leal de Freitas Dantas Gomes PhD¹, Roberto Stirbulov⁴ and Dirceu Costa PhD⁵*

¹Doctoralstudent, PostgraduateProgram in RehabilitationSciences, University Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), São Paulo,SP, Brazil.
²Master’s student, PostgraduateProgram in RehabilitationSciences, University Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), São Paulo,SP, Brazil.
³Post-Doctoral student, Postgraduate Program in Physical Therapy, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), SãoCarlos, SP, Brazil.
⁴PhysicianPulmonologist on Pulmonology Service of the SantaCasa School of Medical Sciences - São Paulo, Brazil.
⁵Teaching staff member, Postgraduate Program in Physical Therapy, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

*Corresponding Author E-mail: dcosta@uninove.br; Telephone: (11) 3665-9325 / 3665-9817

Accepted 04 August, 2014

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine whether peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO₂) monitored in patients with chronic pulmonary obstructive disease (COPD) during a physical capacity test is correlated with quality of life components. The sample comprised 30 patients with COPD (16 men and 14 women). All participants were submitted to a spirometric evaluation. Quality of life was evaluated using the 36-item Short Form of the Medical Outcomes Study (SF-36). Functional capacity was evaluated using the Incremental Shuttle Walk Test (ISWT). SpO₂ was positively correlated to the physical functioning (r = 0.37; p < 0.03), role physical (r = 0.37. p < 0.04), general health state (r = 0.39; p < 0.02) and vitality (r = 0.37; p < 0.04) subscales of the SF-36. SpO₂ was also correlated with the distance walked on the ISWT (r = 0.37; p < 0.04), which, in turn, was positively correlated with the general health state subscale of the SF-36 (r = 0.34; p < 0.05). Desaturation during the evaluation of functional capacity using the ISWT was correlated with worse symptoms reported by patients with COPD, thereby demonstrating an association between SpO₂ and quality of life in these patients.

Keywords: Shuttle walk test, COPD mechanisms, hypoxemia, quality of life.