Quality of life, muscle strength, and fatigue perception in patients on suppressive therapy with levothyroxine for differentiated thyroid carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the fatigue perception, the muscle function, and the health-related quality of life (QoL) in subclinical hyperthyroidism (SCH) induced by levothyroxine in the treatment of differentiated thyroid carcinoma, in comparison with a group of euthyroid (EU) subjects.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study with 38 SCH individuals and 54 EU subjects was performed. They were submitted to Short Form-36 and Chalder questionnaires to evaluate QoL and fatigue, respectively. The tests performed to evaluate muscle function of upper and lower limbs were: maximum quadriceps isometric strength (QS); quadriceps fatigue resistance (T50% QS), QS at 30 seconds (QS30s); quadriceps functional capacity (QFC); maximum isometric handgrip strength (HS); fatigue handgrip resistance (T50% HS), HS at 30 seconds (HS30s); and functional capacity of the shoulder.


CONCLUSIONS
The SCH patients had worse muscle function, regarding HS (25.19 ± 7.00 vs. 30.45 ± 9.98 kgf in EU, P = 0.009) and functional capacity of the shoulder (41.28 ± 48.36 vs. 56.68 ± 37.44 s in EU, P = 0.004). The self-perception of fatigue by Chalder questionnaire (23.91 ± 5.39 vs. 29.77 ± 7.03, P = 0.000) and the QoL in terms of functional capacity (70.20 ± 21.57 vs. 56.25 ± 28.79, P = 0.025), physical aspects (71.42 ± 36.44 vs. 45.83 ± 42.88, P = 0.004), pain (62.48 ± 22.20 vs. 50.05 ± 24.80, P = 0.035), and emotional aspects (70.74 ± 38.26 vs. 46.29 ± 44.56, P = 0.008) were also worse in SCH. In conclusion, the SCH was associated with alterations in the QoL, reduction in the muscle function of upper limbs, and higher degree of fatigue.
Endocrine Clinic, University Hospital Clementino Fraga Filho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. dhianahsantini@gmail.com
Dhiãnah Santini
DS
de Oliveira Chachamovitz
Patrícia
P
dos Santos Vigário
Mônica Fabíola
MF
Nogueira Cordeiro
Carmen Lucia Natividade
CL
de Castro
Mário
M
Vaisman
Patrícia de Fátima
Pde F
dos Santos Teixeira
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005221:Fatigue / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D013974:Thyroxine