title: Evaluation of activity limitation in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis grouped according to Medical Research Council dyspnea grade.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relations between Medical Research Council (MRC) dyspnea grade and peripheral muscle force, activities of daily living (ADL) performance, health status, lung function, and exercise capacity in subjects with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cross-sectional observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects with IPF (N=65, 46 men) in a stable clinical state with a mean age of 68±7 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) via transthoracic echocardiography, pulmonary function, isometric quadriceps force (QF) and handgrip force (HF), 6-minute walk distance (6MWD), ADL score, and health status (Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey [SF-36]) were assessed and compared between subjects grouped according to MRC grade.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the participants, 16 were in MRC grade 2, 17 were in MRC grade 3, 17 were in MRC grade 4, and 15 were in MRC grade 5. RVSP, pulmonary function, QF, HF, 6MWD, ADL, and SF-36 scores decreased with increasing MRC grade (all P<.001). All measures were lower (P<.05) in subjects with grades 4 and 5 than subjects with grades 2 and 3. Strong associations were found between MRC grade and 6MWD (ρ=-.89, P=.001) and ADL score (ρ=-.82, P=.001). MRC grade was also associated with RVSP, pulmonary function, QF, and HF (all ρ≥.56, P=.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MRC dyspnea scale provides a simple and useful method of categorizing individuals with IPF with respect to their activity limitation and may assist in understanding the impact of IPF on an individual.
authors: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki, Japan; Physiotherapy Department, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia; School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia. Electronic address: ryokozu@nagasaki-u.ac.jp.
authors: Ryo
authors: R
authors: Kozu
authors: Physiotherapy Department, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia; School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia; Lung Institute of Western Australia and Centre for Asthma, Allergy and Respiratory Research, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors: Sue
authors: S
authors: Jenkins
authors: Department of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Science, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.
authors: Hideaki
authors: H
authors: Senjyu
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D054990:Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies
keywords: Dyspnea; Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; Rehabilitation