Predictors of quality of life of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

Background/Aim. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has a significant impact on quality of life of patients. We investigated which demographic and social characteristics can predict the global quality of life (QoL) of COPD patients. Methods. The patients (n = 288) were divided into three groups according to the stage of disease: Group I = stage 0-at risk; Group II = Stages I and II; Group III = stages III and IV. The patients fulfilled a questionnaire related to the demographic and social characteristics and the validated multidimensional questionnaire-Serbian version of the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). The Student's t test, χ² test, ANOVA, univariate and multivariate logistic regression tests were used for statistical analyses. Results. In the group I, prevailed the men, employed persons, with a moderate financial status and no family history of COPD. In the group II dominated women, pensioners, with a moderate financial status, duration of illness up to five years, and no family history of COPD. In the group III prevailed women, unemployed persons, a moderate financial status, COPD duration up to 5 years and Ključne reči: pluća, opstruktivne bolesti, hronične; kvalitet života; demografija; socijalno-ekonomski faktori; ankete i upitnici; srbija.

The Relationship between Experienced Respiratory Symptoms and Health-Related Quality of Life in the Elderly with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

“…Consistent with our findings, two previous studies showed that elderly patients with COPD suffer from low HRQoL, especially in the physical dimension [26,27]. In some other studies, old age was one of the predictors of physical activity [12], which was found to be associated with the decreased quality of life in these patients [28,29]. Elderly patients with COPD have less body strength compared to healthy individuals.…”

“…Similarly, a prior study found that the experience of frequent coughs and wheezing in the previous 12 months is an important risk factor for the low physical and psychological domain of quality of life among the elderly with respiratory diseases [37]. In addition, it has been revealed that the exacerbation of the disease is associated with the low quality of life of patients with COPD [12]. A prior study has revealed that the most worrying symptom affecting the quality of life was shortness of breath [20].…”

“…In addition, in the present study, impairment in the physical dimension of quality of life and duration of the disease was significantly higher in women than men. In the study by Vasiljević et al, female gender and disease severity were among the predictors of physical activity [12] that in turn can affect the quality of Critical Care Research and Practice patients' life. In general, women probably are more disturbed in their duties due to having multiple roles in their lives when exposed to the disease, and therefore their quality of life may be more affected [31,32].…”

“…Moreover, previous studies have shown that respiratory symptoms particularly frequent coughs and shortness of breath are associated with urinary incontinence in elderly patients with COPD [9][10][11]. Moreover, elderly patients with COPD experience more respiratory symptoms and physical dysfunction with the exacerbation and the increased duration of the disease [12]. Furthermore, exacerbation of the disease can be associated with some other conditions such as sudden cardiac death, which shows that the impacts of COPD are not limited to the respiratory system [13].…”