The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome on the physical profile and quality of life.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) on the physical fitness and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among SARS survivors.


METHODS
A cohort study.


METHODS
An outpatient physiotherapy department in a major hospital in Hong Kong.


METHODS
SARS patients (N=171) discharged from the hospital. Their mean age was 37.36+/-12.65 years, and the average number of days of hospitalization was 21.79+/-9.93 days.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Subjects cardiorespiratory (6-minute walk test [6MWT], Chester step test for predicting maximal oxygen uptake [Vo 2 max]), musculoskeletal (proximal/distal muscle strength and endurance test), and HRQOL status (Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey [SF-36]) were measured and compared with the normative data matched for age and sex.


RESULTS
Seventy-eight (45.61%) patients continued to require prednisolone (< 0.5mg.kg -1 .d -1 ) for residual lung opacities when data were collected. The values of 6MWT distance, predicted Vo 2 max, proximal and distal muscle strength, and the scores from all SF-36 domains, particularly perceived role-physical, were significantly lower than the normative data ( P <.05).


CONCLUSIONS
SARS survivors had deficits in cardiorespiratory and musculoskeletal performance, and their HRQOL appeared to be significantly impaired.
Lau
Herman Mun-Cheung
HM
Physiotherapy Department, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, P.R. China.
Lee
Edwin Wai-Chi
EW
Wong
Caroline Ngar-Chi
CN
Ng
Gabriel Yin-Fat
GY
Jones
Alice Yee-Men
AY
Hui
David Shu-Cheong
DS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011788:Quality of Life; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011239:Prednisolone