Effects of Quadriceps Muscle Strength and Kinesiophobia on Health Related Quality of Life in Elderly Women and Men with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of quadriceps muscle strength and kinesiophobia on health-related quality of life in elderly women and men with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Methods: After recording the socio-demographic information of individuals, the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain status, the modified Medical Research Council Scale (mMRCS) for dyspnea, TAMPA Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK), Saint George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) for health-related quality of life, and manual dynamometer were used to measure for muscle strength of quadriceps.Results: Seventeen (37.8%) of the 45 participants were female. The mean age and body mass index of females were 71.59±4.84 years and 28.75±6.71 kg/m2, respectively. Kinesiophobia averages were 47.47±7.40 and 41.89±7.65 in women and men, respectively, and SGRQ(Symptom) scores were 75.97±15.87 and 63.89±18.54 in women and men, respectively. Statistical analysis showed that there was a significant difference between men and women between kinesiophobia and SGRQ(Symptom) (p<0.05). There was a correlation between kinesiophobia and SGRQ(Activity), SGRQ(Symptom) and SGRQ(Total) in females and kinesiophobia and SGRQ(Activity), SGRQ(Impact) and SGRQ(Total) in males (p<0.05). The TSK score was found to affect the quality of life, more in women (p<0.05). There was no correlation between pain and quadriceps muscle strength and SGRQ parameters in both men and women (p>0.05). Conclusion: In elderly individuals with COPD, kinesiophobia is an important factor affecting the quality of life and is recommended to increase physical activity, and monitor the physiological, emotional well-being in order to improve quality of life.