Hacettepe Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi (Dec 2014)
Astımlı Hastalarda ve Sağlıklı Kişilerde Dispne Düzeyinin Karşılaştırılması
Abstract
Purpose: Bronchial asthma is a chronic disease which characterized with reversible airway inflammation and intermittent symptoms. Dyspnea which develops due to ventilation-perfusion mismatch is one of the most important symptom of asthma. The aim of this study was to investigate the difference of dyspnea sensation between the asthma patients and healthy individuals. Materials and Methods: A total of 20 subjects aged 18-65 years people including 10 patients with bronchial asthma (age =39.6±15.4 years), 10 healthy individuals (age=39.1±6.9 years)were included in the study. Physical characteristics and pulmonary function parameters were recorded. Dyspnea was determined using the modified Modifiye Medical Research Council (MMRC) scale. Results: There was no significant difference in age, height, weight and body mass index between asthmatics and healthy subjects (p>0.05). There were statistically significant differences in forced expiratory volume in one second (p<0.05). There were significant differences in mMRC scores between asthmatics and healthy subjects (p<0.05). Discussion: According to the consensus statement prepared by the American Thoracic Society dyspnea is a subjective feeling which is affected by physiological, psychological and environmental factors. The perception of dyspnea in patients with asthma compared to healthy individuals was increased. Increased perception of asthma may be due to severe bronchoconstruction, hypoxemia, ventilation-perfusion mismatch and hypercapnia. Approaches of reducing dyspnea in asthma (relaxing training programmes, teaching positions to reduce dyspnea and attendance of self-management programmes) efficacy should be investigated.
