Test Retest Reliability and Validity of 1-Minute Sit-to-Stand Test in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure

Aim: The psychometric properties of the 1-minute sit-to-stand (1STS) test have not been investigated in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). The aim of this study was to evaluate test–retest reliability, construct validity, and minimal detectable change of the 1STS test and to investigate the physiological response to the 1STS test in patients with CHF. Method: Forty-three (43) patients with CHF were included. Demographic and clinical features were recorded. To investigate test–retest reliability, participants performed two 1STS tests on the same day. The correlations between the 1STS test and the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), functional class, pulmonary function, quadriceps muscle strength, and physical activity were investigated for validity. The physiological responses and symptom perception were assessed before and after both the 1STS test and 6MWT. Results: Excellent test–retest reliability was found for the 1STS test, with an intraclass correlation of 0.932 (95% confidence interval 0.874–0.963). The minimal detectable change of the 1STST test was 3.7 repetitions. The 1STS test was correlated with 6MWT distance, age, functional class, pulmonary function, quadriceps muscle strength, and physical activity (p0.05), except for leg fatigue (p=0.02). Conclusions: The 1STS test is reliable and valid in evaluating functional exercise capacity in patients with CHF. The 1STS test reveals similar cardiac demand to the 6MWT. The 1STS test may be considered an option when traditional tests are impractical in terms of space and time

Extrapulmonary features of post-COVID-19 patients: muscle function, physical activity, mood, and sleep quality.

Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) represents a wide range of clinical manifestations, even if mild disease severity. It has been known that pulmonary function is affected by COVID-19 during infection and mid-to-long term. However, there is inadequate evidence about extrapulmonary features in post-COVID-19 patients. Aims This study aimed to investigate extrapulmonary features in post-COVID-19 patients who recovered from mild and moderate disease severity in the mid-term. Methods This cross-sectional study was carried out after at least 12 weeks from the COVID-19 diagnosis. Disease severity was defined using criteria for clinical severity of confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia. The peripheral muscle strength was measured using the dynamometer. Physical performance was assessed with five times sit-to-stand and 4-m gait speed. Physical activity level (PAL), mood, and sleep quality were assessed with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety, and Depression Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, respectively. Results A total of 48 participants with post-COVID-19 (39.2 +/- 7.9 years, 54.2% women) were included in the study. Handgrip and quadriceps weakness was observed in 39.6% and 35.4% of the participants, respectively. PAL was low in 39.6%, moderate in 33.3%, and high in 27.1% of the participants. Anxiety, depression, and poor sleep quality were observed in 33.3%, 29.2%, and 50% of the participants, respectively. Conclusions Extrapulmonary features are adversely affected in a substantial proportion of post-COVID-19 patients who recovered from mild and moderate disease severity in the mid-term. Comprehensive assessment and appropriate intervention strategies should also be considered for non-severe post-COVID-19 patients

Effect of exercise interventions in adults with cancer receiving palliative care: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE: Previous publications showed the effectiveness of exercise in adults with cancer receiving palliative care, but evidence for palliative care research on exercise is lacking. The purpose is to examine the effects of an exercise intervention on exercise capacity, physical function, and patient-reported outcome measures in adults with cancer receiving palliative care. METHODS: We searched databases including EMBASE, PubMed, and Web of Science from inception until 2021. We used the Cochrane criteria to assess the risk of bias within studies. Using RevMan, mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence intervals or standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 14 studies and 1034 adults with cancer receiving palliative care are included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Half of the studies were deemed to have high risk of bias. All of the interventions used aerobic and/or resistance exercises. The results indicated that exercise interventions significantly improved exercise capacity (mean difference: 46.89; 95% confidence interval: 4.51 to 89.26; Z = 2.17; P = 0.03), pain (standardized mean difference: - 0.29; 95% confidence interval: - 0.54 to - 0.03; Z = 2.18; P = 0.03), fatigue (standardized mean difference: - 0.48; 95% confidence interval: - 0.83 to - 0.12; Z = 2.66; P = 0.008), and quality of life (standardized mean difference: 0.23; 95% confidence interval: 0.02 to 0.43; Z = 2.12; P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Exercise training, with aerobic exercise, resistance exercise, or combined aerobic and resistance exercise, helps to maintain or improve exercise capacity, pain, fatigue, and quality of life in adults with cancer receiving palliative care