Improving health-related quality of life in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
OBJECTIVE
Most current treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have been unable to improve survival or arrest decline in lung function. This reality highlights the importance of patient-focused outcomes that address symptom relief, functional status, and overall health-related quality ov life (HRQOL). Measures of HRQOL can complement established physiologic outcomes that have been traditionally used.


RESULTS
There are several generic and disease-specific instruments that can be used to measure HRQOL, each incorporating various aspects of physical, psychological, and social function. Basic concepts regarding these instruments are presented. Recent studies suggest that HRQOL is an important measure of prognosis and healthcare resource utilization in COPD patients.


CONCLUSIONS
An increasing number of studies now incorporate HRQOL as an outcome measure. Interventions that have shown a positive effect on some or all components of HRQOL, including inhaled corticosteroids, inhaled bronchodilators, opioids, oxygen therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation, implementation of a disease-specific self-management program, and lung volume reduction surgery are discussed in this review.
Santo Tomas
Linus H
LH
Medical College of Wisconsin, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. santo@mcw.edu
Varkey
Basil
B
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile
D001993:Bronchodilator Agents