Disability in valued life activities among individuals with COPD and other respiratory conditions.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to delineate the effect of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on a broad range of valued life activities (VLAs) and make comparisons to effects of other airways conditions.


METHODS
We used cross-sectional data from a population-based, longitudinal study of US adults with airways disease. Data were collected by telephone interview. VLA disability was compared among 3 groups defined by reported physician diagnoses: COPD/emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and asthma. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to identify independent predictors of VLA disability.


RESULTS
About half of individuals with COPD were unable to perform at least 1 VLA; almost all reported at least 1 VLA affected. The impact among individuals with chronic bronchitis and asthma was less but still notable: 74%-84% reported at least 1 activity affected, and about 15% were unable to perform at least 1 activity. In general, obligatory activities were the least affected. Symptom measures and functional limitations were the strongest predictors of disability, independent of respiratory condition.


CONCLUSIONS
VLA disability is common among individuals with COPD. Obligatory activities are less affected than committed and discretionary activities. A focus on obligatory activities, as is common in disability studies, would miss a great deal of the impact of these conditions. Because individuals are often referred to pulmonary rehabilitation as a result of dissatisfaction with ability to perform daily activities, VLA disability may be an especially relevant outcome for rehabilitation.
Katz
Patricia P
PP
University of California, San Francisco, 3333 California St, Ste 270, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA. patti.katz@ucsf.edu
Gregorich
Steven
S
Eisner
Mark
M
Julian
Laura
L
Chen
Hubert
H
Yelin
Edward
E
Blanc
Paul D
PD
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011594:Psychometrics; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000628:therapy; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires