Correlations of Egen Klassifikation and Barthel Index scores with pulmonary function parameters in Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Brunherotti, Marisa Afonso; Sobreira, Claudia; Rodrigues-Júnior, Antônio Luiz; Renato de Assis, Marcos; Terra Filho, João; Baddini Martinez, José Antônio

doi:10.1016/j.hrtlng.2006.07.006

« Previous Next »Heart & Lung: The Journal of Acute and Critical Care
Volume 36, Issue 2 , Pages 132-139, March 2007

Correlations of Egen Klassifikation and Barthel Index scores with pulmonary function parameters in Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Marisa Afonso Brunherotti, PT, MSc
- Pulmonary Division, Internal Medicine Department, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
Claudia Sobreira, MD, PhD
- Neurology, Psychiatrics, and Medical Psychology Department, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
Antônio Luiz Rodrigues-Júnior, DDS, PhD
- Social Medicine Department, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
Marcos Renato de Assis, MD, PhD
- Clinics Hospital, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
João Terra Filho, MD, PhD
- Pulmonary Division, Internal Medicine Department, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
José Antônio Baddini Martinez, MD, PhD
- Pulmonary Division, Internal Medicine Department, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Reprint requests: José Antônio Baddini Martinez, MD, PhD, Internal Medicine Department, Av. Bandeirantes 3900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil, CEP:14040-980.

Purpose

This study investigated the correlations obtained by using the Egen Klassifikation (EK) and Barthel Index (BI) functional scales and respiratory function parameters in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Methods

Spirometry, maximal respiratory pressures, and arterial blood gases were analyzed and graded according to the EK and BI scales in 26 patients. They were classified as high or low risk for introduction of noninvasive ventilation according to the respiratory function.

Results

The EK and BI scales significantly correlated with forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, and maximal respiratory pressures. The worse the functional performance, the worse the respiratory measurements. The degree of correlation between the functional scales and each respiratory parameter was similar. An EK of 21 or higher predicted high risk for the introduction of noninvasive ventilation.

Conclusions

EK and BI scales similarly correlated with the degree of respiratory involvement in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The EK scale was superior in detecting subjects with a higher risk for introduction of noninvasive ventilation.