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Background/Objective(s): Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can precipitate a deterioration of an individual's physical performance and overall health. Evidence suggests that, along with pulmonary functions, several other factors are related to the significant impairment of walking performance in individuals with COPD. This study compared the depressive symptoms, health status, upper and lower extremity functions, and peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) in a group of individuals with COPD based on walking performance using a cutoff distance of 350m in the six-minute walking test (6MWT). The study also investigated the associations between these factors and walking performance. Materials and Methods: Participants performed the 6MWT according to the guidelines and were classified into high (>350m; n=40) or low (<350m; n=30) walking performance groups according to distance. The forced expiratory volume (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and FEV1/FVC ratio were recorded. Participants completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), and the Upper and Lower Extremity Functional Index (UEFI/LEFI). Predicted VO2peak was measured using the Duke Activity Status Index (DASI). Results: Seventy participants with a mean age of 63±11 years (20% female) were enrolled in this study. Patients with high walking performance demonstrated significantly better health status than those with low walking performance (SGRQ: 49±25 vs. 56±21, p=0.03). Participants with low walking performance had lower predicted VO2peak compared to their higher performing counterparts (p=0.002). The overall model was significant (F(8, 61) = 7.48, p=0.0006), with PHQ-9, SGRQ, UEFI/LEFI, VO2peak, and FEV1/FVC explaining approximately 49.5% of the variance in the 6MWT distance. Conclusion: This study shed light on the association of depressive symptoms, health status, extremity function, and VO2peak with walking performance, providing valuable insights that may impact the management and care of individuals with COPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To translate and cross-culturally adapt the original Duke Activity Status Index (DASI) into the Arabic language and examine its psychometric properties in Arabic speaking patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The DASI was translated into the Arabic language and tested on 70 Arabic patients with COPD. Patients with COPD completed also the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) and Saint George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) on the first visit. On the second visit, the patients with COPD completed the Arabic version of DASI along with the global rating of change scale (GRC). The internal consistency, test-retest reliability and construct validity were examined. Seventy Arabic speaking patients with COPD (56 males), mean (SD) age was 63.2 (11.1) year, completed the study. The patients reported no difficulty in understanding and completing the scale. Three items were modified and adapted to the Arabic culture. The Cronbach's alpha was 0.87, and the ICC2,1 was 0.95. The Arabic version of DASI correlated with the 6MWT (r = 0.55), the total score of SGRQ (r = −0.64) and its activity domain (r = −0.67), all p < 0.001. The Arabic version of DASI is a simple, quick, reliable, and valid measure of functional capacity in Arabic speaking patients with COPD. The Arabic DASI can be used in all Arabic-speaking countries given that the scale was adapted to standard Arabic language. The Arabic DASI would yield similar scores with administrations over time in patients with unchanged condition and stable COPD. This questionnaire could be used for screening of functional capacity in COPD in primary care settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS-Ar) in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Stable individuals with COPD (N = 70) confirmed by spirometry were asked to complete the LEFS-Ar, St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and performed the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT). Participants were also asked to complete LEFS-Ar for the second time within 10 days. The LEFS-Ar floor and ceiling effects, internal consistency, test–retest reliability, measurement error, and construct validity were examined. The LEFS-Ar had excellent internal consistency with Cronbach's alpha of 0.95 and excellent test–retest reliability (ICCagreement=0.91) with no floor and ceiling issues. Standard error of measurement was 4.78 points while the minimal detectable change at 90% confidence was 11.15 points. Consistent with our hypotheses, the LEFS-Ar scores correlated significantly with 6MWT (r= −0.66, p < 0.001), activity domain of the SGRQ (r = 0.55, p < 0.001), and were significantly different according to COPD disease severity (p= 0.02). In people with COPD, the LEFS-Ar has excellent reliability with no floor or ceiling effects. The LEFS-Ar demonstrated evidence supporting its validity as a measure of activity limitation that can be used in clinical practice and in research studies. The Arabic version of the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS-Ar) is a reliable measure in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Rehabilitation specialists can use the LEFS-Ar to validly measure activity limitation in people with COPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Anxiety Inventory for Respiratory Disease (AIR) is a reliable and valid scale for examining the anxiety in patients with COPD. This study aimed to cross-culturally adapt and translate the original AIR scale into the Arabic language and to examine its reliability and validity in Arab patients with COPD. This was a validation study conducted on 70 Arabic patients with COPD. The AIR-A and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were completed on the first assessment. After two weeks, 55 patients completed the AIR-A scale again. The reliability was assessed by Cronbach's α and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC2,1). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used to measure the structural validity. The construct validity was also explored. The AIR-A questionnaire had a Cronbach's α of 0.91 and ICC2,1 of 0.86. The EFA revealed that the AIR-A was unidimensional. The CFA showed the single-factor model required minor modifications to reach the best fit. The AIR-A was correlated with the HADS- anxiety (r = 0.89, p < 0.001). The Arabic version of AIR scale is reliable, and valid for assessing the anxiety disorder in Arabic speaking patients with COPD worldwide. The Arabic version of AIR will be useful for examining anxiety in Arabic speaking patients with COPD worldwide. The Arabic version of AIR will help clinicians to monitor the effect of interventions in Arabic speaking patients with COPD who suffer from anxiety. The Arabic version of AIR assess only the anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Physical therapists are recognized healthcare providers who play an important role in cardiovascular disease prevention. Heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) are important parameters in cardiovascular risk assessment; however, physical therapists do not usually integrate them into clinical practice. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the current practice and opinion of outpatient physical therapists toward HR and BP measurements in clinics. Methods: A 12-item survey questionnaire was distributed to outpatient physical therapists. Five senior staff from different specialties, including orthopedic, neurology, pediatric, cardiopulmonary, and sport specialties, participated in a focus group interview to gather their opinions. Results: In total, 285 (56%: male) physical therapists participated. Only 68 (24%) measured HR and BP; of these, 27 (41%) used manual sphygmomanometers. Nearly one-fifth reported that cardiovascular adverse events, such as syncope and chest pain, occurred during therapeutic exercise of their patients and were the highest among the sport and orthopedic physical therapists. Most physical therapists felt that measuring cardiovascular indices is not their job and does not add value to their treatment plan. Conclusion: Majority of the physical therapists were not measuring HR and BP during clinical assessment, although some reported cardiovascular adverse events occurring in their patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]