Muscle endurance in elderly nursing home residents is related to fatigue perception, mobility, and circulating tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, and heat shock protein 70.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the relationships between muscle endurance and circulating interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and heat shock protein (Hsp)70 in nursing home residents and to assess how muscle endurance relates to self-perceived fatigue and mobility.


METHODS
Exploratory study.


METHODS
Three nursing homes of the Foundation for Psychogeriatrics (Brussels, Belgium).


METHODS
Seventy-seven residents (53 female and 24 male, mean age 81 +/- 8).


METHODS
Participants were assessed for muscle endurance (fatigue resistance and grip work); perceived fatigue (visual analogue scale for fatigue); fatigue during daily activities (Mobility-Tiredness Scale); effect of fatigue on quality of life (World Health Organization Quality Of Life questionnaire); mobility (Tinetti Test & Elderly Mobility Scale (EMS)); and circulating IL-6, TNF-alpha, and Hsp70.


RESULTS
Residents with better fatigue resistance reported less self-perceived tiredness (P<.05). Similar trends were observed for fatigue during daily activities and for the extent to which fatigue bothered subjects. Higher grip work was associated with less self-perceived fatigue on all fatigue scales (P<.01). Fatigue resistance and grip work were positively related to balance and basic mobility (all P<.01; trend for relationship between fatigue resistance and EMS). Subjects with high IL-6 and Hsp70 showed significantly worse fatigue resistance (P=.007) and muscle work (P=.045) than those with high IL-6 and low Hsp70. In male residents, higher TNF-alpha was related to worse fatigue resistance and grip work (P<.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Elderly nursing home residents complaining of fatigue need to be taken seriously, because they show worse muscle endurance, which is related to poorer mobility. Inflammatory processes involving TNF-alpha and the interaction between IL-6 and Hsp70 are related to poorer muscle endurance in these patients.
Bautmans
Ivan
I
Department of Gerontology, Brussels, Belgium.
Njemini
Rose
R
Predom
Heidi
H
Lemper
Jean-Claude
JC
Mets
Tony
T
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D005684:Gait; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D018763:Muscle Fatigue / Q000502:physiology*; D009735:Nursing Homes; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D004856:Postural Balance; D012649:Self Concept; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*
D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha