Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Respiratory system disorders have an impact on daily living activities of subjects, resulting in disability. Data should be gathered on disability for health services. The present study aimed to review the records of patients with a respiratory disability report from our medical board, and contribute to the national and regional statistics on disability.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed sociodemographic characteristics, respiratory diseases and disability rates of the patients who were examined by the Chest Diseases Department during the Medical Board evaluations in our hospital between January 1st and July 1st, 2014.

RESULTS: Among 4285 patients whose applications were submitted to the medical board for evaluation, 401 (9.3%) had a respiratory disease. Of these patients, 163 were male, and 238 were female, with a mean age of 64.2 years. The most common diseases associated with disability were chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and sequelae tuberculosis.The disability rating for respiratory system was 80% in 24.9% of patients, 40% in 34.7% of patients, and 20% in 40.4% of patients. Patients with a respiratory disability report were also considered disabled by the departments of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Cardiology and Eye diseases. There was a positive correlation between disability rating and age, and a negative correlation between forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1) and oxigen saturation measured by pulse oximeter (SpO2) values (p= 0.002; p< 0.001; p< 0.001, respectively). Furthermore, smokers had a higher disability rating compared to non-smokers (p= 0.02).

CONCLUSION: In Turkey, we have limited number of studies about respiratory disability. We believe that the present study will help determination of the etiology of respiratory disability and contribute to any action on prevention of these disorders in our region.