title: Factors associated with quality of life in patients with chronic respiratory failure due to kyphoscoliosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients with chronic respiratory failure due to kyphoscoliosis (CHRF-KS) constitute a specific population with impaired health-related quality of life (HRQL). Thus far, no studies have examined factors related to HRQL. The objective of the present study was to identify clinical, functional and exertion-related factors associated with HRQL.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated 27 patients (12 males). Respiratory function tests, dyspnea ratings, peripheral and respiratory muscle function and exercise testing were performed. The Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire (CRDQ) was used to assess HRQL. Bivariate correlations were used to investigate the relationships between CRDQ dimensions and the clinical, functional and exertion-related characteristics of the study participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The general characteristics of the study sample were as follows: age: 61 (IQR: 12) years, FVC: 32.6% (IQR: 10.2) and pCO2: 48 mmHg (IQR: 8.7). Peripheral muscle strength, dyspnea and exercise capacity were identified as significant factors associated with poorer HRQL. The CRDQ dimensions of fatigue and emotional function showed greater correlations with the patients' general characteristics. Dyspnea CRDQ scores did not correlate with dyspnea in any of the scales used.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Of the various factors examined, dyspnea, exercise capacity and peripheral muscle strength have been identified as significant factors associated with HRQL in CHRF-KS patients.
authors.affiliation: Unidad Médico-Quirúrgica de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Avda Manuel Siurot, s/n, 41013 Sevilla, Spain.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cejudo
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: López-Márquez
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Lopez-Campos
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.forename: Carmen Carmona
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Bernal
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Márquez
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tallón
authors.forename: Hildegard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Riera
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barrot
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007738:Kyphosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires