Obstacle of physical activity and activities of daily living in patients with COPD: Dyspnea related kinesiophobia

Dyspnea is a cardinal symptom of COPD. This leads to physical deconditioning. Hence, it is recommended that patients stay active despite dyspnea. As a result of painful situations, the term of excessive avoidance from physical movement is defined as Kinezyophobia. Similarly, patients with lung disease avoid or compensate activities. And we can call this dyspnea related kinesiophobia. The aim of this study was to assess the perception of dyspnea related kinesiophobia. In our study 77 patients, who were referred to XXX University Faculty of Health Sciences Department of Cardiopulmonary Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation which was followed-up with the diagnosis of COPD, participated. Demographic assessment form, pulmonary function test, Breathlessness Beliefs Questionnaire (BBQ), MMRC, HADS, SGRQ, IPAQ and LCADL were performed. SPSS package program was used in analysis and level of significance was determined as p˂0.05. Subjects mean BBQ score was 41.41±6.46. The BBQ total score ranged between 11 to 55 and high scores indicates high level dyspnea related kinesiophobia. BBQ has moderate correlation with FEV₁(lt)(p=-0.401), FVC(lt)(p=-0.414), CAT(p=0.387), MMRC(p=0.402), HADS(p=0.366), IPAQ(p=-0.399). Also, there was high correlation with SGRQ(p=0.614) and LCADL(p=0.689). In our study, the presence of high dyspnea related kinesiophobia was determined in COPD. Also, the relationship between dyspnea related kinesiophobia and pulmonary functions, dyspnea perception, physical activity, activities of daily living, quality of life was determined. In addition, the awareness was provided for the need of assessment of dyspnea related kinesiophobia in clinical applications.