DOES ANXIETY HAVE AN EFFECT ON WALKING DISTANCE IN INDIVIDUALS WITH COPD?

There are a limited number of studies in literature examining the relationship between anxiety and functional capacity in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The present study was planned to investigate whether anxiety has an effect on walking distance in individuals with COPD. 125 individuals who were diagnosed with COPD according to Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) criteria were included in the current study. Sociodemographic data of the individuals were recorded. The walking distance was evaluated using the 6-Minute Walking Test. Anxiety level was assessed using the Anxiety Inventory Respiratory (AIR) Scale. The mean age of COPD patients included in this study was 66.1±9.011 years. The negative effect of the patient’s anxiety level on the walking distance was found statistically significant (Regression coefficient (B) (Standard error (SE)) = -5.618 (1.454), p