Assessment of functional status by the Duke Activity Status Index in stable bronchiectasis

Abstract

Introduction: Bronchiectasis is a growing global health problem.

Objective and methods: To evaluate the functional status of stable bronchiectasis patients recruited from a terciary hospital in Fortaleza, Brazil.The patients were submitted to spirometry, six minute walking test (6MWT), step test (6MST), measurement of fibrinogen,E-FACED scores(incorporates FEV1 ,age,colonisation by Pseudomonas,radiological extension, dyspnoea and exarcebation) and Duke Activity Status Index(DASI) test.Each item of DASI scored proportionally to the metabolic equivalentes(METs). The sum of DASI scores was applied for an estimation of oxygen consumption(VO2).

Results: The sample comprised 101 patients.Patients with post-tuberculosis bronchiectsis had the lowest level of functional parameters than those with others etiologies[DASI(19.9 ±10.9 vs 31.2±14.4 p<0.001); VO2 (18.1 ± 4.7 vs 23.1 ± 6.1 p< 0.001 respectively)]. DASI scores and estimated VO2 correlated with E-FACED(r= -0.44 p=0.001; and r= -0.44 p=0.001 respectively) and 6MST r= 0.37 p<0.001 and r=0.40 p<0.001 respectively).

Conclusion: After multivariate analysis , bronchiectasis post-TB , E-FACED and 6MWT explained the impact on performance in bronchiectasis patients.

Keywords: 6 min step test; 6 min walk test; Bronchiectasis; Duke Activity Status Index (DASI); FACED; oxygen consumption.