Correlation of 5-Repetition Sit-to-Stand Test with Borg Dyspnoea Scale and GOLD Spirometric Classification in Patients with COPD

Abstract

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major global health problem associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Functional assessments such as the “5-repetition sit-to-stand test (5STS)” may serve as accessible tools to estimate disease severity, especially in resource-limited settings. This study assesses the relationship between the 5STS and the Borg dyspnoea scale, along with the GOLD spirometric classification, in Indian patients diagnosed with COPD.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 71 stable COPD patients from a tertiary care center in Mumbai were evaluated. Participants underwent spirometry, 5STS, and dyspnoea assessment using the modified Borg scale. Patients were also classified according to the GOLD spirometric classification. Statistical correlations and comparisons were performed using Spearman’s correlation, ANOVA, and post-hoc Tukey tests.
Results: Participants had a mean age of 65.7 ± 8.3 years, with males comprising 80.3% of the study population. The mean 5STS completion time was 14.98 ± 3.64 seconds. The 5STS demonstrated a strong positive correlation with the Borg dyspnoea scale (r = 0.857, p < 0.001). ANOVA revealed significant differences in 5STS times across GOLD spirometric categories (p < 0.001). Cronbach’s alpha demonstrated high reliability of 5STS in reflecting symptom severity (0.829).
Conclusion: The 5STS test shows a strong correlation with established COPD severity indices and is a reliable, inexpensive, and rapid assessment tool. It holds potential as a surrogate marker for disease severity in resource-constrained settings.