Muscle performance and fatigue in compensated chronic liver disease.

• Background: A common and debilitating symptom in patients with chronic liver disease is fatigue (CLD). Muscle dysfunction has been suggested to be a key mechanism of fatigue in CLD. Objective: We aimed to evaluate fatigue and the potential association with muscle performance and physical activity in outpatients with CLD. Methods: Two-hundred seventy outpatients with CLD were included, (52±15years, mean±SD; 151 females) with autoimmune hepatitis (n=49), primary biliary cholangitis (n=45), primary sclerosing cholangitis (n=46), chronic hepatitis B (n=57) or C (n=73). Patients with a Child-Pugh >6 were excluded. The questionnaire Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS) was used to evaluate fatigue, and physical activity was evaluated through a self-reported level of physical activity. Muscle function was assessed with four muscle tests, walking speed, handgrip strength, standing heel-rise test (SHT) and 'Timed Up and Go' test (TUG). Results: The median total FIS score was 30 (40% had FIS > 40, considered high-fatigue). Diminished muscle performance was observed in the SHT (% of predicted value: 53±26%) and with maximum grip strength (85±20%). The FIS score was significantly different between groups of CLDs (p=.004). In multivariate analysis the TUG (p=.001), SHT (p=.005), antidepressants (p<.001), and level of physical activity (p=.001) were associated with fatigue (R2=29%). Subjects with higher levels of physical activity had lower FIS (p<.001). Conclusions: In patients with CLD, fatigue was associated with low muscle performance and reduced level of physical activity, which could be a potential therapeutic target.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Gastroenterologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Gastroenterology and Hepatology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Fatigue

chronic liver disease

muscle function

hepatitis

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)