Comparison of exercise capacity, physical activity level and quality of life in prolactinoma patients and healthy individuals

Prolactinoma with elevated prolactin (PRL) hormone can cause adverse effects by increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) such as arterial stiffness, atherosclerosis, dysrhythmia and heart failure. The aim of our study was to compare patients with prolactinoma and healthy individuals in terms of exercise capacity, physical activity level, sleep quality, fatigue perception and quality of life. The second aim of our study was to examine the factors associated with exercise capacity in patients with prolactinoma. Nineteen female patients with prolactinoma and 19 healthy adult women were included in our study. Physical and demographic data and laboratory findings were recorded. The CVD risk factors knowledge levels using Cardiovascular Diseases Risk Factors Knowledge Level Scale (CARRF-KL), physical activity levels using International Physical Activity Scale-short form (IPAQ), functional exercise capacities using 6-minute walking test (6MWT), quadriceps muscle strength using hand dynamometer, muscular endurance using squat test, quality of life with Short Form-36 questionnaire (SF-36), sleep quality with Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and fatigue levels with Multidimensional Fatigue Rating Scale (MAF) were evaluated. Patients with prolactinoma had significantly lower 6DYT distance, CARRF-KL total score, SF-36 general health and physical limitation scores, and significantly higher IPAQ-sitting score than healthy subjects (p<0.05). The quadriceps muscle strength of both groups was similarly weak and the number of squat repetitions was similar (p>0.05). There was no significant difference between the groups in IPAQ-severe, moderate, walking and total scores, PSQI total and subscores and MAF scores (p>0.05). There was no significant difference between the groups in IPAQ-severe, moderate, walking and total scores, PSQI total and sub-scores, and MAF scores (p>0.05). In conclusion, patients with prolactinoma have reduced exercise capacity compared to healthy individuals. Their knowledge of CVD risk factors is significantly lower than healthy controls. Fatigue, physical activity and sleep quality levels were similar in patients with prolactinoma and healthy subjects. Physical limitation and general health-related quality of life were significantly lower in the prolactinoma group. We thought that patients diagnosed with prolactinoma should be evaluated in terms of CVD risk as preventive approaches in cardiac rehabilitation programs and necessary interventions should be applied to increase their knowledge level, increase their exercise capacity and should be directed to physical activity counseling programs.