Ultrasound Measurements of Pelvic Floor and Diaphragm Muscles in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients With Urinary Incontinence

Abstract

BackgroundThe precise manner in which morphological properties of pelvic floor muscles (PFMs) and diaphragm muscle in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients with Urinary Incontinence (UI) are affected remains unclear.AimThis study aimed to compare the ultrasound measurements of PFMs and diaphragm muscle in COPD patients with and without UI.MethodsThirty COPD patients with UI [UI group, age: 61.00 (42.00-70.00) years, body mass index: 27.86 (20.20-54.69) kg/m2] and thirty COPD patients without UI [N-UI group, age: 64.00 (47.00-70.00) years, body mass index: 27.11 (20.30-35.94) kg/m2] were included. The PFMs contaction assessment and diaphragm muscle morphological properties were evaluated using the Logiq S7/Expert ultrasound device. The percentage of change in thickness of diaphragm muscle, known as the diaphragm thickening fraction index (DTFI), was also calculated.ResultsIt was found that the PFMs contraction (p = 0.018) and DTFI (p = 0.016) values were significantly lower in the UI group compared to the N-UI group. No significant differences were observed in the diaphragm thickness score during the inspiration (p = 0.973) and expiration (p = 0.233) between the groups.ConclusionsPatients with COPD and UI exhibited diminished the PFMs contaction severity and DTFI compared to those with COPD but no UI. It should be considered that UI comorbidity in COPD may negatively affect PFMs contaction severity and diaphragm muscle morphological properties.