Determination of nocturnal leg cramps and affecting factors in chronic obstructive pulmonary patients

The study was carried out in a controlled descriptive type to determine nocturnal leg cramps and affecting factors in COPD patients. The sample of the study consisted of a total of 430 patients, including the chronic obstructive pulmonary patients (COPD) group and the control group without chronic respiratory disease. The data of the study were collected between 30.10.2018-11.09.2019 using "COPD Group Patient Information Form, Control Group Patient Information Form, Height Scale, Tape Measure, Caliper, Modified British Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale, Pulse Oximeter, Nocturnal Leg Cramp Evaluation Form, Visual Analog Scale and Charlson Comorbidity Index". Percentage, mean, standard deviation, median Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk, Chi-square, Fisher's Exact, Mann-Whitney U, independent groups t test and Binary logistic regression analysis were used to evaluate the data. The frequency of experiencing nocturnal leg cramps in chronic obstructive pulmonary patients was 40.9% and was 21.9% in the control group (p<0.05). It was determined that nocturnal leg cramps were higher in chronic obstructive pulmonary patients and they were at risk for the development of nocturnal leg cramps approximately two and a half times more than the control group (p<0.05). The factors affecting/triggering the development of nocturnal leg cramps in chronic obstructive pulmonary patients are "low triceps skinfold thickness, low upper middle arm circumference, low upper middle arm muscle area, special nutritional therapy, diabetic diet, low-fat diet, no consumption of milk and meat group foods, comorbidity, taking medication due to comorbidity, having coronary artery disease and diabetes, using beta-blocker drugs, antidiabetic drugs and insulin, having high blood creatine levels, using pike while sleeping, using three or more pillows while sleeping, used the drugs only get stuck and in the evening hours" (p<0.05). In line with the results obtained from the study, recommendations were made by the researcher to evaluate the factors affecting the development of nocturnal leg cramps in COPD patients and to control these factors.