title: Association between physical functions and quality of life in sarcoidosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Quality of life (QOL) is often reduced in patients with sarcoidosis. Studies of the associations between physical functions and QOL are lacking.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  So the aims of this study were (i) to evaluate the associations between QOL and physical functions, including muscle strength and exercise capacity, and other clinical characteristics, and (ii) to evaluate whether these associations change over a two-year period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-eight sarcoidosis patients (61 men; mean age: 46.1 ± 10.2 years) participated in a two-year follow-up to cross-sectional study. All patients completed the short World Health Organization Quality of Life assessment instrument (WHOQOL-BREF) and Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS) at the baseline and follow-up assessments. Patients also performed a six-minute walk test (6MWT) and elbow flexor muscle strength, quadriceps and hamstrings peak torque tests. Maximal inspiratory pressure was recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  QOL in sarcoidosis remained stable over a two-year course of the disease, and was reduced compared with healthy controls, particularly regarding the physical health domain. Fatigue and the six-minute walking distance showed strong associations with QOL at both baseline and follow-up. Fatigue and exercise capacity predicted the scores for the WHOQOL-BREF physical health domain at baseline (59%) and follow-up (64%). QOL at baseline was the best predictor of QOL at follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  QOL is reduced in sarcoidosis. Fatigue and exercise capacity showed important stable associations with QOL, especially in the physical health domain. FAS and 6MWT should therefore be included in the management of sarcoidosis.
authors: Department of interstitial lung diseases, Hospital Gelderse Vallei Ede Maastricht, University, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Department of Toxicology. m.drent@hetnet.nl.
authors: Marjolein
authors: M
authors: Drent
authors: Rik
authors: R
authors: Marcellis
authors: Antoine
authors: A
authors: Lenssen
authors: Jolanda
authors: J
authors: De Vries
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005080:Exercise Test; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005221:Fatigue / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D019415:Torque