| Abstract [eng] |
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a common chronic progressive inflammatory lung disease that is incurable. Its effect on pulmonary function greatly impacts a persons daily life. Dyspnea and fatigue, which is common in COPD patients especially in the later stages of the disease, impairs physical capacity and self-efficacy, negatively affects psychosocial functions and, in turn, has a significant negative effect on disease related quality of life. Due to exacerbations and the progressive nature of the disease patients over-all health status and quality of life decreases with time. Comorbidities are common with COPD and they have a signifificant effect on health status, excacerbation and hospitalisation frequency and morbidity. Objective lung function parameters are insufficient to evaluate the total effect COPD has on the patients health status, general well-being and quality of life, therefore health related quality of life is measured. It can also help predict prognosis, detect health changes, evaluate the effectiveness of treatment and rehabilitation and is useful for determining mortality. Quality of life is evaluated by using questionnaires, that are either generic or disease specific. It is a subjective measurement, because it depends on a patients individual experience of the symptoms and impact on their lives and their perspective on it. Most common tools used for this in clinical practice and most often mentionned in literature are disease-specifc questionnaires suggested by Global Initiative for Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (GOLD)- St. George Respiratory Questionnaire, COPD Assesment test, Clinnical Respiratory Questionnaire. These tests have been found to be valid, reliable and multidimentional in determining health related quality of life, they are sensitive in detecting changes in health status and response to treatment. Most popular generic questionnaires used are the SF-36 and 5D. Other less popular disease-specific questionnaires are also discussed in this literature review. |
