Association between body mass index and patient-reported-outcome questionnaire scores (CAT™, ACT™, mMRC dyspnoea scale, IPAQ) in Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan: results of the CORE study

• Published in: BMC pulmonary medicine Vol. 21; no. 1; pp. 1 - 192
• Main Authors: Nugmanova, D, Feshchenko, Y, Iashyna, L, Polianska, M, Malynovska, K, Stafeyeva, I, Makarova, J, Vasylyev, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BioMed Central Ltd 07.06.2021; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Adults; Asthma; Asthma control test; Body mass index; Body weight; Chronic diseases; Chronic illnesses; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Complications and side effects; COPD assessment test; Disease; Dyspnea; Epidemiology; Exercise; International physical activity questionnaire; Males; Metabolic syndrome; Modified medical research council dyspnoea; Obesity; Overweight; Physical activity; Population; Public health; Pulmonology; Questionnaires; Respiration; Respiratory function; Risk factors; Software; Spirometry; Statistical analysis; Surveys; Ukraine; Wheezing; Kazakhstan; Azerbaijan; Ukraine; United States > US
• ISSN: 1471-2466; 1471-2466
• DOI: 10.1186/s12890-021-01542-2

Abstract Background The overweight/obese population (evaluated by a body mass index, BMI) represents a global health problem and contributes to the development of various chronic diseases. In this epidemiological study we evaluated this relationship by analyzing patient-reported questionnaires related to respiratory function, physical activity and BMI. Methods In 2013–2015, adult residents of selected cities were enrolled to this study in: Ukraine (M/F: 403/561), Kazakhstan (M/F = 348/597) and Azerbaijan (M/F: 389/544). Height was measured using a vertical measuring board, and body weight was measured by using portable digital scales. All participants were interviewed using CAT™, mMRC scale and IPAQ; respondents who also reported wheezing or whistling chest sounds during the previous 12 months additionally ACT™. Results 45.4% of respondents in Ukraine, 47.6% in Kazakhstan and 54.9% of respondents in Azerbaijan were found to be overweight/obese (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m 2 ). The mean CAT™ total score among this population versus those respondents with a normal weight was 5.2 versus 3.6 (Ukraine, p  < 0.001), 4.2 versus 2.9 (Kazakhstan, p  < 0.001) and 5.9 versus 4.3 (Azerbaijan, p  < 0.001). The number of respondents without airflow limitations (mMRC score 0) among overweight/obese respondents versus normal weight respondents was 298 (68.2%) versus 456 (86.7%) in Ukraine, 261 (58.1%) versus 387 (78.2%) in Kazakhstan and 343 (67.1%) versus 345 (82.3%) in Azerbaijan. The ACT™ total score between overweight/obese respondents and normal weight respondents was not statistically different. IPAQ showed a tendency towards a higher proportion of “low activity” results (compared to “moderate” and “high”) in the overweight/obese subgroup (24.7% vs. 23.8% in Kazakhstan, 18.5% vs. 14.6% in Azerbaijan), and in Ukraine this difference was significant (12.4% vs. 5.2%, p  < 0.001). Conclusion CAT™ and mMRC are widely used tools for respiratory function assessment. Despite CAT™ scores being close to a normal value (< 5), the relationship of both CAT™ and mMRC scores with being overweight/obese was demonstrated in the general adult population of three CIS countries. IPAQ may also be a useful instrument for measuring activity level however, more objective studies are required to evaluate the relationship between BMI and physical activity.