OBJECTIVE: Dyspnea is the main symptom of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and as such is an important determinant of health-related quality of life. It is, however, weakly correlated to severity of obstruction and there is little information available on how it exercises its effect on health-related quality of life. The aims of this study were to identify the determinants of baseline dyspnea and to ascertain how that factor influences the health-related quality of life of patients with COPD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 101 patients with COPD were studied. Tests included full lung function assessment, the bronchial provocation test (n=70), and the 6-minute walk test. The following variables were measured: Baseline dyspnea, bronchoconstriction-induced dyspnea, exertional dyspnea, health-related quality of life, and levels of anxiety and depression. RESULTS: Determinants of baseline dyspnea were anxiety (explained variance, 17%), maximal inspiratory pressure (4%), and PaO2 (4%). In patients with mild to moderate COPD (forced expiratory volume in 1 second, >50% of predicted), the main determinant of health-related quality of life was anxiety (explained variance, 43%). Other determinants were the number of meters walked in the 6-minute-walk test, age, and Baseline dyspnea (variance explained by both factors, 26%). Baseline dyspnea and bronchoconstriction-induced dyspnea were both identified as independent determinants of health-related quality of life (on the activity and impact subscales of the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire, respectively). The main determinant of health-related quality of life in patients with severe COPD (forced expiratory volume in 1 second, < or =50% of predicted) was baseline dyspnea. Finally, the main determinants of anxiety were exertional dyspnea (variance, 42%) and baseline dyspnea (6%). CONCLUSIONS: Anxiety is the main determinant of health-related quality of life in patients with COPD, and it is triggered mainly by baseline dyspnea and exertional dyspnea.
OBJECTIVE:Dyspnea is the main symptom of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and as such is an important determinant of health-related quality of life. It is, however, weakly correlated to severity of obstruction and there is little information available on how it exercises its effect on health-related quality of life. The aims of this study were to identify the determinants of baseline dyspnea and to ascertain how that factor influences the health-related quality of life of patients with COPD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 101 patients with COPD were studied. Tests included full lung function assessment, the bronchial provocation test (n=70), and the 6-minute walk test. The following variables were measured: Baseline dyspnea, bronchoconstriction-induced dyspnea, exertional dyspnea, health-related quality of life, and levels of anxiety and depression. RESULTS: Determinants of baseline dyspnea were anxiety (explained variance, 17%), maximal inspiratory pressure (4%), and PaO2 (4%). In patients with mild to moderate COPD (forced expiratory volume in 1 second, >50% of predicted), the main determinant of health-related quality of life was anxiety (explained variance, 43%). Other determinants were the number of meters walked in the 6-minute-walk test, age, and Baseline dyspnea (variance explained by both factors, 26%). Baseline dyspnea and bronchoconstriction-induced dyspnea were both identified as independent determinants of health-related quality of life (on the activity and impact subscales of the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire, respectively). The main determinant of health-related quality of life in patients with severe COPD (forced expiratory volume in 1 second, < or =50% of predicted) was baseline dyspnea. Finally, the main determinants of anxiety were exertional dyspnea (variance, 42%) and baseline dyspnea (6%). CONCLUSIONS:Anxiety is the main determinant of health-related quality of life in patients with COPD, and it is triggered mainly by baseline dyspnea and exertional dyspnea.
Authors: Sevgi Ozalevli; Duygu Ilgin; Hayriye Kul Karaali; Serpil Bulac; Atilla Akkoclu Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2009-05-28 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Roland W Esser; Maria C Stoeckel; Anne Kirsten; Henrik Watz; Karin Taube; Kirsten Lehmann; Helgo Magnussen; Christian Büchel; Andreas von Leupoldt Journal: Front Physiol Date: 2017-08-23 Impact factor: 4.566
Authors: Amy Blakemore; Chris Dickens; Else Guthrie; Peter Bower; Evangelos Kontopantelis; Cara Afzal; Peter A Coventry Journal: Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis Date: 2014-05-20