Assessing the health-related quality of life in subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

An institution based clinical study

Abstract

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease affects structural and functional domains of the lung with great impact with additively involving and presenting the extra-pulmonary effects which in turn, have an impact on the overall well-being of the affected subjects. Aims: The present study was conducted to assess the health-related quality of life in subjects with COPD. Methods: The present cross-sectional study included 102 subjects with COPD from both genders and ages of more than 45 years where disease severity was assessed using the GOLD system. PFT was done following the guidelines by the ATS and ERS task force standardized lung function testing, whereas, the quality of life was assessed using SGRQ concerning its COPD-specific version. Total scores of SGRQ were compared for different parameters including COPD grades, gender, and age. The collected data were subjected to statistical evaluation.  Results: p-values for impact component scores were 0.06, <0.001, and <0.001 for COPD grades 2, 3, and 4 respectively. Activity component scores had respective p-values of 0.342, 0.09, and <0.001 for COPD Grades 2, 3, and 4. For symptom component scores, the p-values for COPD grades 2, 3, and 4 were 0.03, <0.001, and <0.001.