Evaluation of the relationship between sleep quality, physical activity level and functional capacity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

This study was conducted to explain the relationship between sleep quality, physical activity level and functional capacity of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Research data were collected by questionnaire method. The study included 45 patients with a mean age of 62 years, who were followed up with the diagnosis of COPD in the chest diseases outpatient clinic between September 2020 and October 2021, who met the inclusion criteria and agreed to participate in the study on a voluntary basis. Pulmonary function test of all patients, COPD Assessment Test (CAT), Modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) Dyspnea Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PUKI), International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ), 6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT), 30 Seconds Up-Sit Test and Hand Grip Strength measurements were made. IBM SPSS Statistics 22 program was used for statistical analysis of the data. As a result of statistical analysis; 68.9% of our patients had poor sleep quality. 84.4% of our patients were in the low-level activity group. It was found that all sub-parameters of PUKI did not differ significantly according to COPD risk groups (p>0.05). A significant correlation was found between age and 6MWT distance (p=0.001). It was determined that there was a significant difference between mMRC grades and the Number of 30 Seconds Stand-Up Tests (p<0.05). No significant correlation was found between PUKI score and 6MWT distance in low-risk COPD patients (p>0.05). A significant correlation was found between PUKI score and IPAQ total MET values in high-risk COPD patients (p=0.031). As a result, it was determined that the majority of patients with COPD had poor sleep quality. It was concluded that poor sleep quality may affect negatively physical activity level and functional capacity. Among the rehabilitation goals, improving poor sleep quality and increasing the physical activity level and functional capacity of individuals with COPD will increase the success rate of rehabilitation.