Background: The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) defines chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as “a disease state characterized by airflow limitation that is not fully reversible. Due to progressive airflow limitation, the patients become increasingly symptomatic leading to worsening in their health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Therefore we undertook the present study is to examine associations between COPD and four measures of HRQOL using Saint George Respiratory Questionnaire (SJRQ) in hospital-based COPD patients without co-morbid conditions.

Method

Sample: One hundred twenty consecutive stable COPD patients (diagnosed as per GOLD guidelines) , >40 years of age, without any co-morbid conditions (diabetes, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, hypertension) were recruited in this study after intuitional ethical clearance and informed consents. A proper history and demographic details and routine clinical examination were recorded.

Tools: The health-related quality of life (HRQOL) was assessed using Hindi SGRQ-C. Forced expiratory volume in first one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1/FVC% and reversibility were measured using Spirolab III (Medical International Research USA, Inc.).

Statistical analysis: The descriptive analysis was done in the data treatment with the SPSS version 20.

Result: The mean age of the COPD patients was (mean±SD) 53.38±8.0 (range 45-83) years. Most of the patients (93.30%) were current or past heavy smokers. Most of these patients were concentrated in GOLD stage 3(36.7%) and stage 4(40.8%). Age, BMI, pack years and GOLD staging were not significantly associated with HRQOL.

Conclusion: Indian patients with COPD show significantly reduced HRQOL as measured by disease specific questionnaire SGRQ, similar to COPD patients in other countries. In our study, only FEV1 % predicted was significantly correlated with HRQOL, all other measures including GOLD staging were not significantly associated with HRQOL

Keyword: pulmonary obstructive.

1. Cella D. Quality of life: the concept. J Palliat Care 1992, 8(3):8–13.
2. Chan-Yeung M, Ait-Khaled N, White N, Tan WC. The burden and impact of COPD in Asia and Africa.Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2004; 8(1): 2–14.
3. Cocco G, D'Agostino F, Piotti L, Schiano M, Zanon P, Melillo G. Evaluation of Quality of Life in asthma. European Respiratory Review1993;3(14):369-72.
4. Ferrer M, Villasante C, Alonso J, et al. Interpretation of quality of life scores from the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire. EurRespir J2002; 19(3):405-13.
5. Fletcher A, Gore S, Jones D, Fitzpatrick R, et al. Quality of life measures in health care. II: Design, analysis, and interpretation. BMJ1992; 305:1145-48.
6. Gardner RM. Standardization of spiro-metry: a summary of recommendations from the American Thoracic Society. The 1987 update. Ann Intern Med. 1998;108(2):217–220.
7. Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD), 2014. Available from www.goldcopd.org.last updated, Feb 2014.
8. Incalzi RA, Bellia V, Maggi S, et al; Sa.R.A. Study Group. Reversible bronchial obstruction and disease-related health status in COPD.Qual Life Res2002; 11(6):517-25.
9. Jindal SK, Aggarwal AN, Gupta D, Agarwal R, Kumar R, Kaur T, et al. Indian study on epidemiology of asthma, respiratory symptoms and chronic bronchitis in adults (INSEARCH). Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2012; 16:1270‑7.
10. Jones PW, Brusselle G, Dal Negro RW, Ferrer M, et al. Health-related quality of life in patients by COPD severity within primary care in Europe. Respiratory Medicine 2011;105:57e66.
11. Jones PW, Quirk FH, Baveystock CM. The St George's Respiratory Questionnaire. Respiratory Medicine1991; 85(Suppl B):25-31.
12. Mahler D. How should health-related quality of life be assessed in patients with COPD? Chest2000; 117: 54S-57S.
13. Martin A, Rodriguez-Gonzalez Moro JM, Izquierdo JL, Gobartt E, de Lucas P; VICE Study Group. Health-related quality of life in outpatients with COPD in daily practice: the VICE Spanish Study.Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis2008; 3(4):683-92.
14. Stahl E, Lindberg A, Jansson SA, Ronmark E, et al. Health-related quality of life is related to COPD disease severity. Health Qual Life Outcomes 2005; 3:56.
15. Teckle P, Hannaford P, Sutton M. Is the health of people living in rural areas different from those in cities? Evidence from routine data linked with the Scottish Health Survey. BMC Health Serv Res. 2012; 12:43.
16. Vestbo J, Hurd SS, Agustí AG, et al. Global strategy for the diagnosis, management, and prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: GOLD executive summary. Am J RespirCrit Care Med. 2013; 187(4): 347–65.

Dr Ved Prakash Ghilley (M.D. Medicine)

Assistant Professor, Late Lakhiram Agrawal memorial Govt. Medical College,

Associated Kirodimal Govt. Hospital, Raigarh, CG, India