A COMPARISON OF ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING IN GERIATRIC AND NON-GERIATRIC PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE

Introduction: Multiple disease entities in geriatric patients may exacerbate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease symptoms and lead to functional limitations. The purpose of this study was to assess and compare activities of daily living in geriatric and non-geriatric patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Materials and Method: Thirty-eight patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were included in this study. The patients were divided into two groups: geriatric (age>65 years) and non-geriatric (age<65 years). Dyspnea level was evaluated using modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale. Activities of daily living were assessed with two performance-based activities of daily living tests: the Glittre Activities of Daily Living Test and the Activities of Daily Living Simulation Test. Results: Pulmonary function and dyspnea levels of geriatric and non-geriatric patients were similar in the study (p>0.05). Glittre Activities of Daily Living Test time was significantly shorter in the non-geriatric patients than in the geriatric patients (p<0.05). Significantly fewer cycles in the Activities of Daily Living Simulation Test were completed by the geriatric patients than by the non-geriatric patients (p<0.05). Conclusion: Activities of daily living performance is reduced in the geriatric patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease compared with younger individuals with same disease severity, dyspnea levels and comorbidities. Influences in activities of daily living of the geriatric patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can be revealed as distinctive compared with the adult patients using these activities of daily living tests.