An analysis of respiratory function, exercise capacity, quality of life, anxiety, pain, muscle strength and bone mineral density in patients with stable COPD

Şahman Çakır F, An analysis of respiratory function, exercise capacity, quality of life, anxiety, pain, muscle strength and bone mineral density in patients with stable COPD. Hacettepe University, Institute of Medical Sciences, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Prosthesis Orthesis and Biomechanics Programme, Master's Thesis, Ankara, 2019. Chronic Obstructive pulmonary disease is characterized by decreased lung capacity and increased airway resistance (COPD) and causes significant mortality and morbidity. The aim of this study was to examine pulmonary function, exercise capacity, quality of life, anxiety, pain, muscle strength, bone mineral density in patients with stable COPD. The study and control groups aged between 40 and 70 years consisted of 40 clinically in stable COPD patients with GOLD stage I and II and 35 non-COPD individuals, respectively. Before and after the treatment, the patients' pulmonary function and diffusion capacity were evaluated using a spirometer, pain assessments were performed using Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS). Exercise capacity was evaluated using 6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT), depression levels were assessed using Beck Depression Inventory, anxiety levels were evaluated with Beck Anxiety Inventory, quality of life levels were evaluated using Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and Short From SF36 Survey, whereas bone mineral density was determined using Bone Mineral Densitometry (BMD). Our findings showed that all parameters of the respiratory function tests (FVC%, FEV1%, FEV1/FVC%, FEF25-75 %) of patients with COPD significantly decreased compared to the control group (p<0.05). The difference between the SMWT of patients with COPD significantly decreased compared to the control group (p<0.001). The differences in the Beck Anxiety Scale and the Beck Depression Scale of patients with COPD significantly increased compared to the control group (p<0.001, p<0.05, respectively). VAS after 6MWT and VAS at rest patients with COPD significantly increased compared to the control group (p<0.001, p<0.05, respectively). The gastrocnemius and abdominal muscle strengths of patients with COPD significantly decreased compared to the control group (p<0.05). The difference between Hamstring, Quadriceps and Back Extensors was not significant between the two groups (p>0.05). When the BMD was evaluated, there was no statistically significant difference in any of the variables between the COPD and the Control Groups (p>0.05). According to our results, in stable COPD patients, pulmonary function, exercise capacity, quality of life and muscle strength decreased, whereas pain level, anxiety and depression level were increased, and contrary to expectations, there was no change in posture and BMD skores. Keywords: COPD, pain, exercise capacity, bone mineral density, quality of life.