Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is defined as a chronic lung disease characterized by progressive airflow limitation and chronic respiratory symptoms due to structural changes in the airways. Dyspnea (shortness of breath), chronic cough, and increased sputum production are the most common symptoms in individuals with COPD. Respiratory diseases are considered a risk factor for lower urinary tract symptoms due to cough and shortness of breath. Severe coughing and shortness of breath increase intra-abdominal pressure and stress on the bladder. These conditions can lead to leakage if the pelvic floor muscles are weak. In addition, regular coughing can further weaken the ligaments in the pelvic floor, causing symptoms.
Lower urinary tract symptoms is a general term covering various functional disorders of the bladder, pelvic floor, or specific pathologies. The International Continence Society classifies lower urinary tract symptoms in three main groups: storage (increased/decreased urination, urinary incontinence, nocturia, overactive bladder), emptying (delayed urination, painful urination, intermittent urination), and post-emptying (feeling of not being able to empty the bladder completely, repeated urge to urinate, urinary tract infections). When the current literature was examined, it was observed that there are studies on the presence of urinary incontinence in patients with chronic respiratory disease, but there are limited studies investigating the presence and effects of lower urinary system symptoms in individuals with COPD in general and investigating the level of pelvic floor health knowledge. In this context, our study is unique and may contribute to future rehabilitation studies in this field.
