Quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd) in outpatient care

Aim
The objective of the study was to assess the quality of life of COPD patients in outpatient care from the perspective of increased bronchial obturation and disease symptoms.

Material and methods
The study was performed in 319 patients with COPD receiving outpatient care at a clinic for pulmonary diseases. The study was conducted by means of a diagnostic survey using the standardized St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), the COPD Assessment Test (CAT), and spirometry test results.

Results
Smokers accounted for 99.4% of the subject population. The average overall quality of life (QoL) score for patients in the study group was 44.67 ± 8.94. The lowest QoL scores, averaging at 76.46 ± 8.80, were reported for the symptoms subscale. The average score for the activities subscale was 47.14 ± 12.75. The highest QoL scores, averaging at 31.45 ± 11.18, were reported for the impact subscale. The overall quality of life was significantly inversely correlated with severe bronchial obturation p<0.001) and the severity of COPD symptoms as assessed using the CAT scale, i.e. cough (p<0.001), phlegm (p<0.001), chest tightness (p<0.001), breathlessness (p<0.001), confidence (p<0.001), sleep (p<0.001), lack of energy (p<0.001), and limitations regarding everyday activities (p<0.004).

Conclusions
Patients with COPD require health education to address tobacco control, as well as tertiary prevention of the primary disease, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes. The quality of life of the study patients is determined mainly by the clinical condition associated with the severity of the symptoms and the degree of lung function impairment.