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L.P. Montealegre Esmeral1, E.M. Amador Rodero1, M. Escorcia Vides1, D. Blanquicett Galeano1, D. Suarez Orcasitas1, T. Pulido Iriarte1
1Libre University, Physiotherapy Program, Barranquilla, Colombia
Background: COPD is the chronic respiratory disease with the highest incidence level worldwide, generating disability-adjusted life years. It can affect functional independence, and to assess this kind of affection is necessary for the physiotherapeutic approach. Several instruments have been generated to measure the level of functionality and quality of life in patients with COPD, the WHODAS 2.0 of the WHO allows to estimate the degree of disability and the Saint George questionnaire qualifies the quality of life in patients with chronic respiratory disease.
Purpose: To determine the level of disability and of quality of life in patients with COPD of a pulmonary rehabilitation center in Barranquilla District, 2019.
Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Study population: 120 patients treated in a pulmonary rehabilitation unit in Barranquilla – Colombia, convenience sampling, sample size 50 patients. Instruments applied the WHODAS 2.0 short versión used to estimate the level of disability and the Saint George questionnaire to measure quality of life in patients with COPD. The SPSS was used for statistical analysis.
Results: 54% were female, an average age of 69.96 years (SD 11.49). According to WHODAS 2.0, a 56% had mild disability, 18% moderate disability, 8% severe disability and 6% extreme disability. In reference to the Saint George questionnaire, the most prevailed diagnosis is stage I or mild with a percentage of 36%, 34% stage II or moderate, 30% stage III or severe. According to the dimensions evaluated by WHODAS 2.0, it was evident that the Mobility dimension was the most affected with an average of 1.62, followed by the participation dimension with an average of 1.59 and the daily activities dimension with an average of 1.5. This is compatible with similar research findings in which the most affected dimensions are related to mobility, participation and daily activities (Navarrete Opazo, 2018), in patients with chronic conditions, in this sense COPD has restrictive effects on the human body movement. Regarding the distribution according to sex of the dimensions of quality of life evaluated by the Saint George questionnaire, it was observed that men present the highest percentages at the severe level for symptoms, activity and impact with 61%, 35 % and 30% respectively, this is consistent with the results of studies where it was observed that men with COPD had greater affectation in the dimensions related to quality of life compared to women (Pineda-Higuita, Ramos-Melchor, Cadavid -Carmona, 2014).
Conclusion(s): The disability found was associated with the triad of dyspnea, exercise limitation and deterioration in quality of life. As the disease progresses, patients experience decreased health-related quality of life. The holistic approach should include pulmonary rehabilitation, prescription of exercise, and control of physical activity as necessary elements in this type of patient with chronic respiratory conditions.
Implications: In the comprehensive management of patients with COPD, the recognition of the level of disability and quality of life offer professionals, especially the physical therapist, the aspects on which the goals of their approach should be focused.
Funding, acknowledgements: The authors wish to thank the Libre University, the research assistant students and the Barranquilla / Colombia pulmonary rehabilitation center.
Keywords: COPD, disability evaluation, quality of life
Topic: Cardiorespiratory
Did this work require ethics approval? Yes
Institution: Libre University
Committee: Libre University Ethics Committee
Ethics number: 0038 de abril 2 de 2019
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
