Psychological distress and quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a cross-sectional study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20262870Keywords:
Anxiety, CAT, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Depression, DASS-21, Quality of life, StressAbstract
Background: COPD has been associated with decreased QOL as well as various psychological disorders like anxiety, depression and stress. The study conducted was to measure psychological distress among COPD patients and the relation of it with QOL.
Methods: A cross-sectional study done on 74 COPD patients who had their consultation in a tertiary care hospital at Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. The QOL among COPD patients was evaluated applying CAT. Depression, anxiety and stress levels were assessed using the DASS-21 questionnaire. The relationship between QOL and psychological distress parameters was assessed using Spearman’s correlation test, Kruskal–Wallis test and multiple linear regression analysis.
Results: The mean CAT score was 29.19±9.53 which implied poor QOL among COPD patients. Moderate depression was found in 40.5% of COPD patients while extremely severe anxiety was found in 77% of the patients. Poor QOL showed significant correlation with depression (ρ=0.394, p<0.001), anxiety (ρ=0.548, p<0.001) and stress (ρ=0.443, p <0.001). Increased disease duration was strongly correlated with elevated psychological distress scores. In multiple regression analysis, anxiety was found to be the only independent predictor of poor QOL (B=0.618, p<0.001).
Conclusions: There is significant impairment in the QOL as well as a heavy psychological burden in terms of anxiety among COPD patients. Psychometric evaluation should be included as a key aspect of COPD management.
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