Gender effect on the use of modified Borg and visual analog scales in the evaluation of dyspnea in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

ABSTRACT

To investigate the gender effect on the use of Modified Borg Scale [MBS] and Visual Analog Scale [VAS] for the effort dyspnea evaluation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease [COPD] patients. Fifty-two patients with severe COPD were included in this study. Pulmonary function [spirometry], quality of life [Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire-CRDQ], exercise capacity [6-minute walking test], and dyspnea severity [Modified Borg and Visual Analog Scales] were evaluated. The dyspnea severity scores were higher and walking distance was shorter in women [p<0.05]. The scores of the both scales were correlated with each other in both genders [p<0.05]. In men, the dyspnea scores obtained by MBS and VAS scales were significantly correlated with 6-minute walking distance [p=0.001] and total score of CRDQ [p=0.001]. On the other hand, the dyspnea severity score of the women obtained by MBS was correlated with only the total score of CRDQ [p<0.05]. The results of our study show that gender has an effect on dyspnea perception obtained by MBS and VAS. We suggest that MBS and VAS should be used for men whereas MBS may be more convenient for women in the evaluation of dyspnea in severe COPD