title: Effect of exacerbations on quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a 2 year follow up study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A study was undertaken to evaluate exacerbations and their impact on the health related quality of life (HRQL) of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
  
  
  METHODS
  A 2 year follow up study was performed in 336 patients with COPD of mean (SD) age 66 (8.2) years and mean (SD) forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)) 33 (8)% predicted. Spirometric tests, questions regarding exacerbations of COPD, and HRQL measurements (St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and SF-12 Health Survey) were conducted at 6 month intervals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1015 exacerbations were recorded, and 103 (30.7%) patients required at least one hospital admission during the study. After adjustment for baseline characteristics and season of assessment, frequent exacerbations had a negative effect on HRQL in patients with moderate COPD (FEV(1) 35-50% predicted); the change in SGRQ total score of moderate patients with > or =3 exacerbations was almost two points per year greater (worse) than those with <3 exacerbations during the follow up (p = 0.042). For patients with severe COPD (FEV(1) <35% predicted) exacerbations had no effect on HRQL. The change in SGRQ total score of patients admitted to hospital was almost 2 points per year greater (worse) than patients not admitted, but this effect failed to show statistical significance in any severity group. There was a significant and independent seasonal effect on HRQL since SGRQ total scores were, on average, 3 points better in measurements performed in spring/summer than in those measured in the winter (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Frequent exacerbations significantly impair HRQL of patients with moderate COPD. A significant and independent effect of seasonality was also observed.
authors.affiliation: Servei de Pneumologia, Institut Clínic de Pneumologia i Cirurgia Toràcica (IDIBAPS), Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain. marcm@clinic.ub.es
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miravitlles
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferrer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pont
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zalacain
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Sala
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Masa
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Verea
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Murio
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ros
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vidal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000502:physiology