Perfil epidemiológico, função pulmonar e incidência de hipoventilação dos pacientes com Esclerose Lateral Amiotrófica de um hospital referência de uma capital brasileira: um estudo transversal retrospectivo

Abstract

Introduction: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a disease that manifests itself by the degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons. The degeneration of neurons causes the loss of voluntary muscle contraction and the control of movements, importantly on the respiratory muscles, which leads to a maximum life expectancy of three to five years after the onset of symptoms. The evidence suggests that the clinical course of the disease is highly related to respiratory functions and capabilities. Objective: To trace the epidemiological profile, lung function and incidence of hypoventilation in patients with ALS. Methodology: Retrospective cross-sectional study, with data collection from medical records of patients who have already died seen at the Dystrophies section of Hospital Júlia Kubitschek in Belo Horizonte. Results: 46 medical records were collected from patients with ALS with a mean age of 59.98±11.66 with 63.8% males and 84.8% diagnosed with sporadic ALS. The disease evolution time was, on average, 3.37±2.87 years. They had an average vital capacity of 1.19±0.57 liters and with the presence of alveolar hypoventilation in 90.3% of the individuals. Conclusion: The majority of data were compatible with the current literature and with the clinical course of the disease, but further studies of these variables are still needed to better characterize these patients.