Abstract
Aim: To explore endometriosis-related fatigue (ERF), health-related fitness, sleep quality, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in women with endometriosis in comparison with matched controls. Methods: Twenty-five affected women and twenty-five age and height-matched women without endometriosis were included. ERF was assessed through the Piper Fatigue Scale; health-related fitness was assessed through the Schöber, flamingo, and 6-min walking tests and dynamometry; and body composition was assessed through impedanciometry. Self-perceived physical fitness, sleep quality, and HRQoL were assessed through the International Fitness Scale, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the 12-item Short Form Health Survey, respectively. Results: Affected women exhibited higher levels of ERF than controls, increased fat mass, and physical deconditioning (reduced back strength, lumbar flexibility, body balance, and functional capacity, p-values < 0.050). Moreover, cases also had poorer perceived physical fitness, sleep quality, and HRQoL (p-value < 0.050). Finally, we observed deteriorated health-related fitness, sleep quality, and HRQoL in those women with endometriosis with higher levels of ERF. Conclusions: This study constitutes the first evidence that women with endometriosis describe a generalized physical deconditioning, even more pronounced in affected women with higher levels of ERF. Further studies assessing the efficacy of rehabilitation interventions to face these physical impairments in women with endometriosis are warranted.
Highlights
Endometriosis is a common gynecological disorder affecting women of reproductive age, which is characterized by the ectopic proliferation of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterine cavity [1], with both genetic and environmental factors associated with its development [2]
The aim of the present study was to explore endometriosis-related fatigue (ERF), health-related fitness, sleep quality, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in women with endometriosis compared with matched controls
Regarding pelvic pain intensity during the examination, all controls reported absence of or mild pelvic pain, while 14 (56.0%) out of 25 women with endometriosis reported mild pelvic pain and 11 (44.0%) affected women reported moderate/severe pelvic pain
Summary
Endometriosis is a common gynecological disorder affecting women of reproductive age, which is characterized by the ectopic proliferation of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterine cavity [1], with both genetic and environmental factors associated with its development [2]. The absence of definitive curative treatments leads to considering this disease as a chronic and progressive condition [5], which has been described to be a risk factor for miscarriage [6], infertility [1], and mid/long-term gynecological cancer [7]. It has been reported the debilitating condition of endometriosis [8,9]. They found that ERF was associated with insomnia, depression, pain, and occupational stress [11]
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