Research Information System
ULUSLARARASI MESLEKSEL VE ÇEVRESEL HASTALIKLAR KONGRESİ, Antalya, Turkey, 27 - 29 March 2017, pp.85-86
The Relationship Between Thoracic Kyphosis Angle and
Dyspnea Severity and General Health Status in Patients With
COPD
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
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