COVID-19 PHOBIA AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVEL IN PATIENTS WITH NON-CYSTIC FIBROSIS BRONCHIECTASIS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic period may affect physical and mental health of non-cystic fibrosis (CF) bronchiectasis patients. The aim of this study was to compare COVID-19 phobia, quality of life, health anxiety, physical activity level and sleep quality during the pandemic between patients with non-CF bronchiectasis and healthy controls.Methods: Thirty non-CF bronchiectasis patients and 44 healthy controls were included. COVID-19 phobia (Coronavirus 19 Phobia Scale (CP19-S)), quality of life (Nottingham Health Profile (NHP)), health anxiety (Health Anxiety Inventory (HAI)), physical activity level (short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF)) and sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)) were evaluated.Results: NHP energy, pain, and physical mobility scores and moderate-intensity physical activity levels were significantly lower; PSQI sleep disturbance score was significantly higher in patients compared with controls (p<0.05). Total CP19-S and HAI scores were similar between groups (p>0.05). The majority of patients and controls did not meet the recommended levels of moderate or high-intensity physical activity per week.Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a decline in quality of life, reduced moderate -intensity physical activity, and increased sleep disturbances among non-CF bronchiectasis patients. Both patients and healthy individuals have experienced coronaphobia and exhibited low levels of physical activity. These results reveal the importance of providing physical activity counseling during the pandemic period.