Comparison of two questionnaires which measure the health-related quality of life of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to determine if there is a healthrelated quality of life (HRQL) instrument, generic or specific, that better represents functional capacity dysfunction in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients. HRQL was evaluated in 20 IPF patients using generic and specific questionnaires (Medical Outcomes Short Form 36 (SF-36) and Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), respectively). Functional status was evaluated by pulmonary function tests, 6-min walking distance test (6MWDT) and dyspnea indexes (baseline dyspnea index) at rest and after exercise (modified Borg scale). There was a restrictive pattern with impairment of diffusion capacity (total lung capacity, TLC = 71.5 ± 15.6%, forced vital capacity = 70.4 ± 19.4%, and carbon monoxide diffusing capacity = 41.5 ± 16.2% of predicted value), a reduction in exercise capacity (6MWDT = 435.6 ± 95.5 m) and an increase of perceived dyspnea score at rest and during exercise (6 ± 2.5 and 7.1 ± 1.3, respectively). Both questionnaires presented correlation with some functional parameters (TLC, forced expiratory volume in 1 s and carbon monoxide diffusing capacity) and the best correlation was with TLC. Almost all of the SGRQ domains presented a strong correlation with functional status, while in SF-36 only physical function and vitality presented a good correlation with functional status. Dyspnea index at rest and 6MWDT also presented a good correlation with HRQL. Our results suggest that a specific instead of a generic questionnaire is a more appropriate instrument for HRQL evaluation in IPF patients and that TLC is the functional parameter showing best correlation with HRQL.

Study of the relationship of dyspnea with depression and functional status in patients with interstitial lung disease

“…While it showed a statistically significant negative correlation with: 6-MWD, spirometric variables (FEV1 and FVC %) and arterial blood gas variables (PaO 2 and SO 2 %) as shown in Table 5. This is in agreement with previous studies [17,21].…”

Sleep desaturation and its relationship to lung function, exercise and quality of life in LAM

“…Each subject completed the Short Form 36 (SF-36) 26,27 questionnaire measuring generic health-related quality of life (HRQL); the baseline dyspnoea and Borg index (BDI) measuring basal and exercise shortness of breath, respectively, 20,28 Epworth Sleepiness Score 29 and Berlin 30 measuring excessive daytime somnolence and risk to OSA, respectively.…”

Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test, mMRC and GAP score Can Predict 1-year Mortality in Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Prospective Study

“…Gender, age, and the two physiologic variables in PFT "FVC" and "DLCO" have been recently integrated into the gender, age and pulmonary physiology (GAP) index, 22 which can also precisely predict the survival rate in patients with IPF. 23 For monitoring IPF, the commonly used questionnaires that evaluate the overall health impact and the degree of breathlessness include Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) [24][25][26] , Short Form-36 (SF-36) 27,28 , and Modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnoea scale. 29 Many of the mentioned tests predict the mortality of patients with IPF, but only some of them have been validated in Asians.…”