Abstract

Objective: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by progressive airflow limitation and exacerbations causing severe mortality and morbidity. The aim of this study is to examine the various clinical characteristics and attack markers of patients who were hospitalized with the diagnosis of COPD exacerbation and followed up in the ward by a physiotherapist.Method: 91 patients were included in the study, which was planned retrospectively. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the patients, Modified Medical Research Board Dyspnoea Scale (mMRC), COPD Assessment Test (CAT), and COPD Combined Assessment Score (GOLD) values were obtained from the physiotherapy registry files.Results: 73 of total 91 patients were male (80.2%) and 18 (19.8%) were female. The mean age of the patients was 72.49±10.10 years. The mean smoking level of the patients was 46.34±39.00 cigarette packs/year. According to GOLD, 34 were group B patients and 57 were group D patients. The mean CAT score was 23.05±8.22 and the mean mMRC score was 2.93±1.01. When the CAT and mMRC scores of the patients in Group B and D were analyzed, a statistically significant difference was found between the two groups (p<0.05). When the relationship between the diagnosis of COPD exacerbation and hospitalized patients' ages and duration of illness was analyzed with Pearson correlation analysis, no statistically significant correlation was found (p>0.05). When the relationship between the CAT and mMRC scores of the patients was analyzed, a statistically significant positive moderate correlation was found (p<0.05, r=0.669).Conclusion: Sociodemographic, physical, and clinical characteristics are the factors that affect the attack profile of COPD, but disease duration and stage, CAT and mMRC score, and long-term oxygen therapy were found to be the main components of attack profile. We think that multidisciplinary approach is required for symptom control with close follow-up in patients who have attack.

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