Factors affecting the relationship between psychological status and quality of life in COPD patients.
BACKGROUND
This study aims to (i) evaluate the association between anxiety and depressive symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQoL); and (ii) identify the effect modifiers of this relationship in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).


METHODS
A total of 337 clinically stable COPD patients answered the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) (assessing HRQoL) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Socio-demographic information, lung function, and other clinical data were collected.


RESULTS
Most patients (93%) were male; they had a mean (SD) age of 68 (9) years and mild to very severe COPD (post-bronchodilator FEV1 52 (16)% predicted). Multivariate analyses showed that anxiety, depression, or both conditions were associated with poor HRQoL (for all SGRQ domains). The association between anxiety and total HRQoL score was 6.7 points higher (indicating a worse HRQoL) in current workers than in retired individuals. Estimates for patients with "both anxiety and depression" were 5.8 points lower in stage I-II than in stage III-IV COPD, and 10.2 points higher in patients with other comorbidities than in those with only COPD.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows a significant association between anxiety, depression, or both conditions and impaired HRQoL. Clinically relevant factors affecting the magnitude of this association include work status, COPD severity, and the presence of comorbidities.
Balcells
Eva
E
Servei de Pneumologia, Hospital del Mar-IMIM, Passeig Marítim 25-29, 08003 Barcelona, Spain.
Gea
Joaquim
J
Ferrer
Jaume
J
Serra
Ignasi
I
Orozco-Levi
Mauricio
M
de Batlle
Jordi
J
Rodriguez
Esther
E
Benet
Marta
M
Donaire-González
David
D
Antó
Josep M
JM
Garcia-Aymerich
Judith
J
D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000209:etiology; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012179:Retirement / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires