Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
JOURNAL OF BASIC AND CLINICAL HEALTH SCIENCES, sa.1, 2025 (ESCI)
Purpose: Obesity is a common problem in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and adversely affects disease progression. This study aimed to investigate the relation between Body Mass Index (BMI) and gait characteristics and gait performance in patients with DMD. Material and Methods: Weight and height were measured to calculate BMI. BMI z-scores were used to categorise weight. Height, weight, and BMI were standardised to sex- and age-corrected z-scores based on the Turkish population. The gait characteristics were evaluated with the Gait Assessment Scale for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD-GAS) and Quality and Independence of Gait Classification Scale for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (QIGSDMD). The gait performance was assessed by the 6-minute walk test and the 10-meter walk/run test. The correlation between body composition and gait parameters was analysed. Results: Eighty-six children with DMD were included in the study. Among the participants, 40.7% had a BMI above the normal range. There were moderate correlations between DMD-GAS and height, weight, and BMI and moderate correlations between QIGS-DMD and height, weight, and BMI (p<0.01). Conclusion: The current findings revealed that an increase in BMI affects the characteristics, quality, and independence of gait in children with DMD, highlighting the need for regular monitoring and timely intervention.