Berkel, R.J. van (2014) Consequences of Uveitis in Childhood: an Evaluation of Physical Fitness, Physical Activity, Quality of Life and Fatigue. thesis, Medicine.
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Abstract
Introduction: Children with chronic inflammatory conditions have an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. The inflammation combined with medication are possible causes of this increased risk. Non-infectious uveitis is a chronic inflammatory condition, and for this reason children with uveitis may also have an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Physical fitness and physical activity are therefore especially important in these children. Nothing is known about physical fitness and physical activity in children with uveitis. This study investigates if children with non-infectious uveitis have a lower physical fitness, physical activity, quality of life, and fatigue compared to healthy children. Methods: 21 patients, aged 8-18 years, with non-infectious uveitis were included. Disease characteristics were assessed by ophthalmologic examination. Physical fitness was assessed by measuring exercise capacity with a cardiopulmonary exercise test using a cycle ergometer, and muscle strength with hand-held dynamometry. An accelerometer was used to assess physical activity. Questionnaires were used to assess functional ability, quality of life and fatigue. Age and gender dependent values were evaluated by using z-scores. Results: Patients with uveitis had a higher body mass index (BMI), a lower relative work rate, lower minute ventilation, and lower isometric muscle strength than healthy children. None of the children reached the recommendations for a healthy amount of physical activity and 79% of the children were physically inactive. Functional ability, quality of life, and fatigue were normal compared to healthy children. The parents did find their children more fatigued compared to parents of healthy children. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that children with uveitis have a higher BMI, impaired physical fitness and a low amount of physical activity, compared to the healthy pediatric population. With this knowledge we may stimulate children with uveitis to become more physically active in order to lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Thesis) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Armbrust, Drs. W. |
| Faculty: | Medical Sciences |
| Date Deposited: | 25 Jun 2020 10:58 |
| Last Modified: | 25 Jun 2020 10:58 |
| URI: | https://umcg.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/1843 |
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