The use of the ICF core set for the evaluation of patients with cardiorespiratory disorders

Abstract

Introduction: The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) categorizes an individual's health and disability considering functionality and contextual factors. However, the ICF has many categories that make it difficult to use daily, and that's why core sets were created. Among the various proposed core sets, there is a core set for post-acute cardiorespiratory conditions.
Objective: to classify patients with cardiac, respiratory and mixed alterations assisted in outpatient clinics using a core set for this population, in addition to verifying whether there are differences between the groups in the application of this core set.
Methods: Individuals with a clinical diagnosis of cardiorespiratory in outpatient physical therapy follow-up for cardiopulmonary rehabilitation diseases were evaluated. The sample was divided into three groups: cardiac, respiratory and mixed. Patients were evaluated using the abbreviated version of the core set for post-acute cardiorespiratory conditions, functionality, handgrip strength and respiratory muscles.
Results: The sample consisted of 67 individuals allocated according to their commitment. It was found that only the energy and impulse, cardiac and ingestion functions, structure of the respiratory system and walking activity showed significantly different responses between the groups. Patients with respiratory, cardiac and mixed disorders have similar functional profiles, but the categories with difference in this profile were those related to the respiratory system, activities and functions related to increased metabolic demand such as walking.
Conclusion: Thus, it is possible to affirm that the core set helps to identify the patients' dysfunctions without depending on whether their dysfunction is cardiac, respiratory or mixed, which can be a tool used in the clinical environment.