Functionality and quality of life in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

PurposeTo identify factors constraining functionality and life quality in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).MethodsCross-sectional study in 6 ALS patients aged 51.16 ± 8.70 years, with disease duration of 3.16 ± 2.63 years. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Severity Scale (ALSSS) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R/BR) served to evaluate functionality; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Assessment Questionnaire (ALSAQ-40) analysed life quality. Descriptive statistics was applied to clinical characteristics. The correlation of clinical profile and disease duration with the degree of functionality and life quality was verified by Spearman’s correlation, with values considered significant if <i>p</i> < 0.05 and <i>r</i> > 0.8.ResultsThere was a positive correlation of age with ALSFRS (<i>r</i> = 0.852), disease duration with ALSAQ-40/physical mobility (<i>r</i> = 0.805), ALSFRS-R with ALSSS (<i>r</i> = 0.972), physical mobility with food (<i>r</i> = 0.881), and communication with emotional status (<i>r</i> = 0.947). Negative correlations were observed of age with mobility (<i>r</i> = –0.805) and emotional status (<i>r</i> = –0.876), disease duration with ALSFRS-R (<i>r</i> = –0.858) and ALSSS (<i>r</i> = –0.930), ALSFRS-R with physical mobility (<i>r</i> = –0.978) and food (<i>r</i> = –0.855), ALSSS with physical mobility (<i>r</i> = –0.910) and daily life activity (<i>r</i> = –0.874).ConclusionsLonger disease was associated with lower functionality and poor life quality. Better functionality indicated lower severity and higher life quality in physical mobility and food. Higher severity was bound with poor life quality in physical mobility and daily life activity. We also observed correlations of physical mobility with food, and communication with emotional status.