Investigation of effects of frailty on functional exercise capacity, quality of life and balance in patients with asthma

Frailty is a multidimensional syndrome associated with many chronic diseases. However, there are insufficient data on the interaction of asthma and frailty. The aim of the study was to investigate respiratory functions, functional exercise capacity, quality of life, activities of daily living, kinesiophobia, balance, lower extremity muscle endurance, anxiety and depression, physical activity level, fatigue and dyspnea perception in frail, pre-frail and non-frail patients with asthma. Twenty-three frail (18F/5M), 29 pre-frail (21F/8M) and 15 non-frail (7F/8M) patients with asthma were included in the study and compared. The frailty (FRIED Fraility Index), balance [Functional Reach Test (FRT)], respiratory functions (spirometer), functional exercise capacity [6-minute walking test (6-MWT)], lower extremity muscle endurance (Thirty-second sit and stand test), activities of daily living [London Chest Activities of Daily Living Scale (LCALD)], quality of life [Asthma Quality of Life Scale (AQLQ)], anxiety and depression [Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)], kinesiophobia (Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale (TKS)]), fatigue [Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS)], perception of dyspnea [Modified Medical Research Council (MMRC)], physical activity level [International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)] were evaluated. There was a significant differance in LCALD self-care (p=0.01), LCALD household activities (p=0.01), LCALD physical activity (p=0.01), LCALD leisure activities (p=0.01), LCALD total score (p=0.02), AQLQ emotional function (p=0.02), IPAQ walking score (p=0.01), FSS score (p=0.01), HADS depression (p=0,01), HADS anxiety (p=0,01) between groups. Results of MMRC, respiratory function test, 30 sec sit and stand test, FRT and TKS were similar in all three groups (p>0.05). Frail asthma patients had lower physical activity level, worse quality of life and activities of daily living, higher perception of fatigue, anxiety and depression levels. In the pulmonary rehabilitation program of patients with asthma, frailty should be evaluated and different approaches should be applied according to frailty stages.