Fernando RSP1, Wickramanayake RTG1, Dulanjanie GGN1, Vidanagamachchi II1, Perera HDT1, Silva MDC1, Wijesinghe RANK2
1SIr John Kothelawala Defence University, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy, Werahera, Sri Lanka, 2SIr John Kothelawala Defence University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Rathmalane, Sri Lanka
Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a prevalent chronic respiratory disease in world wide. According to the data available, the rate of mortality and morbidity associated with COPD in Sri Lanka dramatically increased during last decade. Since complete cure is still impossible for the majority of cases, currently the foremost goal of patient care is to improve their Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL). It consists of several scopes including general health status as well as mental, psychological and sleep status. The social activity participation and the capability to precede the regular life style are also major concerns regarding the HRQoL.
Purpose: The present study was designed to explore the relationship between HRQoL and the selected health parameters in patients with COPD.
Methods: The participants of the study were recruited from COPD clinic in NHRD, Welisara, Sri Lanka according to systematic sampling method. A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted with selected COPD patients within 40-70 years. An interviewer administered questionnaire adopted according to St. George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) was used to collect information on HRQoL, psychological status respectively. Systemic investigations on each participant were carried out in order to obtain information on selected health parameters. The forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1) and FEV1 predicted percentage was used to evaluate pulmonary function. The data on risk of falling was gathered by Time Up and Go (TUG) test. Fat percentage using skin fold thickness and Body Mass Index (BMI) was measured in order to evaluate the nutritional status. In addition, peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) was measured using calibrated equipments. The results were analyzed using SPSS version 23.0.
Results: Out of total 77 participants 90.1 % were males and majority of them were reported as smokers (64.9%). Female (F) participants had a higher total and domain SGRQ scores than males (M) (Total F>M 74.92>66.97, Symptom F>M 82.36>66.68, Activity F>M 82.20>80.62, Impact F>M 68.97>58.00). According to GOLD categorization, 46.8% patients were in moderately severe stage. Approximately 82% of the participants had normal SpO2 level while 68.9% showed a poor nutritional status. Out of total participants 60% showed good psychological status and 67.5% reported reduced risk of falling. There was a significant, moderately strong, positive linear relationship between HRQoL and anxiety. The HRQoL was correlated with depression and total HADS in the similar manner. Moreover a significant weak negative correlation was found between FEV1 and impact domain (r = -0.239, p = 0.037) and between FEV1 % pred and impact domain (r =-0.223, p=0.049). The results obtained by multiple linear regression, revealed that anxiety as a significant predictor for the HRQoL (R2= 0.396, p 0.001).
Conclusion(s): The present study suggests that Health Related Quality of Life of COPD patients is significantly influenced by lung function, anxiety and depression. In addition, female COPD patients had an impaired HRQoL than males in the studied population.
Implications: Physiotherapists should consider targeted interventions to improve their HRQoL along with the medications and pulmonary rehabilitation programs.
Keywords: COPD, HRQoL, Health parameters
Funding acknowledgements: No funding was received to conduct this study.
Purpose: The present study was designed to explore the relationship between HRQoL and the selected health parameters in patients with COPD.
Methods: The participants of the study were recruited from COPD clinic in NHRD, Welisara, Sri Lanka according to systematic sampling method. A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted with selected COPD patients within 40-70 years. An interviewer administered questionnaire adopted according to St. George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) was used to collect information on HRQoL, psychological status respectively. Systemic investigations on each participant were carried out in order to obtain information on selected health parameters. The forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1) and FEV1 predicted percentage was used to evaluate pulmonary function. The data on risk of falling was gathered by Time Up and Go (TUG) test. Fat percentage using skin fold thickness and Body Mass Index (BMI) was measured in order to evaluate the nutritional status. In addition, peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) was measured using calibrated equipments. The results were analyzed using SPSS version 23.0.
Results: Out of total 77 participants 90.1 % were males and majority of them were reported as smokers (64.9%). Female (F) participants had a higher total and domain SGRQ scores than males (M) (Total F>M 74.92>66.97, Symptom F>M 82.36>66.68, Activity F>M 82.20>80.62, Impact F>M 68.97>58.00). According to GOLD categorization, 46.8% patients were in moderately severe stage. Approximately 82% of the participants had normal SpO2 level while 68.9% showed a poor nutritional status. Out of total participants 60% showed good psychological status and 67.5% reported reduced risk of falling. There was a significant, moderately strong, positive linear relationship between HRQoL and anxiety. The HRQoL was correlated with depression and total HADS in the similar manner. Moreover a significant weak negative correlation was found between FEV1 and impact domain (r = -0.239, p = 0.037) and between FEV1 % pred and impact domain (r =-0.223, p=0.049). The results obtained by multiple linear regression, revealed that anxiety as a significant predictor for the HRQoL (R2= 0.396, p 0.001).
Conclusion(s): The present study suggests that Health Related Quality of Life of COPD patients is significantly influenced by lung function, anxiety and depression. In addition, female COPD patients had an impaired HRQoL than males in the studied population.
Implications: Physiotherapists should consider targeted interventions to improve their HRQoL along with the medications and pulmonary rehabilitation programs.
Keywords: COPD, HRQoL, Health parameters
Funding acknowledgements: No funding was received to conduct this study.
Topic: Cardiorespiratory
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kothelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka
Ethics committee: Ethical Review Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Kothelawala Defence University
Ethics number: RP/S/2017/30
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
