Exacerbation-related impairment of quality of life and work productivity in severe and very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

PurposeExacerbation-associated health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with severe and very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is ill-defined. This study describes patterns, HRQoL, and the work productivity impact of COPD-related moderate and SEV exacerbations in patients with SEV/VSEV COPD, focusing on the chronic bronchitis subtype.Patients and methodsA US sample of SEV and VSEV COPD patients with recent moderate or SEV exacerbation was recruited. Along with the demographic and clinical data collected from medical records, patients reported on exacerbation frequency, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) (using the St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire for COPD [SGRQ-C] and the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions [EQ-5D]™ index), and work productivity and activity impairment (using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire – Specific Health Problem [WPAI-SHP]). The HRQoL-related impacts of exacerbation frequency, time since exacerbation, and last exacerbation severity were evaluated via linear regressions.ResultsA total of 314 patients (190 SEV/124 VSEV, mean age =68.0 years, 51% male, 28% current smokers) were included. In the previous 12 months, patients reported an average of 1.8 moderate exacerbations and 0.9 SEV exacerbations. Overall, 16% of patients were employed and reported a high percentage of overall work impairment (42.4% ± 31.1%). Activity impairment was positively associated with recent exacerbation severity (SEV 64.6% ± 26.8% versus moderate 55.6% ± 28.2%) (P=0.006). The HRQoL was significantly worse for SEV versus VSEV COPD (EQ-5D: 0.62 ± 0.23 versus 0.70 ± 0.17, respectively, and SGRQ-C: 70.1 ± 21.3 versus 61.1 ± 19.0, respectively) (P<0.001). Worse current HRQoL was reported by patients with a SEV versus moderate recent exacerbation (EQ-5D: 0.63 ± 0.21 versus 0.70 ± 0.20, respectively) (P=0.003); SGRQ-C: 70.3 ± 19.9 versus 61.7 ± 20.1, respectively (P<0.001). One additional exacerbation in the previous 12 months was associated with a 2.4-point SGRQ-C increase and a 0.02-point EQ-5D index decrease.ConclusionThe severity and frequency of COPD-related moderate/SEV exacerbations in SEV and VSEV COPD patients were positively associated with poor HRQoL and work productivity and activity impairment.

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The cost-effectiveness of domiciliary non-invasive ventilation in patients with end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and economic evaluation

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Estimation of Minimal Clinically Important Difference in EQ-5D Visual Analog Scale Score After Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Subjects With COPD

“…Several studies measured HRQOL, by means of EQ-5D, in patients with COPD during stable phases of the disease [3][4][5][6] and during exacerbations. [7][8][9] In stable disease, the EQ-5D's ability to discriminate between GOLD stages has been shown for total score 3,4 and EQ-VAS, 5 but ceiling effects have also been reported for EQ-VAS. 4,10 Up to now, only one study has examined the responsiveness of EQ-5D after PR in patients with COPD, 10 showing a significant improvement in EQ-5D utility score and a trend toward significant increase in EQ-VAS.…”