The relationship between thoracic kyphosis angle and dyspnea severity and general health status in patients with COPD

Year 2017, Volume 2, Issue 1(4), 43 - 43, 01.11.2017

Ahmet Erdoğan Betül Taşpınar Orçin Telli Atalay Ümran Erbay Ferruh Taşpınar

Abstract

Objective:
The dyspnea is very common among the chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases
(COPD) patients having thoracic hyper-kyphosis, and significant decreases are seen
in quality of life of those patients due to respiratory symptoms such as
dyspnea. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between thoracic
kyphosis angle and dyspnea severity and general health status in patients with
COPD.



Method: This study was carried out in Dumlupinar University, Kutahya Evliya
Celebi Education and Research Hospital, Department of Chest Diseases. One
hundred and five subjects aged between 44 and 85 years (mean age of 68.10±8.59
years) were included in this study. The demographical data of all of the
subjects were recorded. Thoracic kyphosis angle was measured using spinal
mouse, while the severity of dyspnea was determined utilizing Modified Medical
Research Council Dyspnea (MMRC) Scale. For determining the general health
status, COPD Assessment Test (CAT) and Clinic COPD Questionnaire (CCQ) were
used.



Results: While positive low level relationship was determined between thoracic
kyphosis angle and severity of dyspnea (rho= 0.23, p= 0.02), no relation was
found between general health status and thoracic kyphosis (rho < 0.20, p
> 0.05).



Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that as the thoracic kyphosis
angle increases, also severity of dyspnea increases in patients with COPD but
the alteration in thoracic kyphosis angle doesn’t affect general health status
of COPD patients as negatively or positively. Moreover, in practice of
Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, the postures of COPD patients should be
examined in detail, and the protective measures against thoracic kyphosis
should be taken in early period in terms of exercise and ergonomic setting.

 

 

Keywords: Dyspnea, Health Status, Kyphosis,
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive 

 

Keywords

The relationship between thoracic kyphosis angle and dyspnea severity and general health status in patients with COPD

References

• Ahmet Erdoğan1, Betül Taşpınar1, Orçin Telli Atalay2, Ümran Erbay3, Ferruh Taşpınar1 1Dumlupinar University School of Health, Department of Physiotheraphy and Rehabilitation, Kutahya 2Pamukkale University School of Physical Theraphy and Rehabilitation, Denizli 3Dumlupinar University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Chest Diseases, Kutahya