title: Health state and the quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Poland: a study using the EuroQoL-5D questionnaire.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a severe condition that leads to respiratory disability, considerably reduces the comfort of living, and affects all aspects of patient activity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of our study was to assess the quality of life (QoL) in patients with diagnosed COPD using the health‑related QoL questionnaire, EQ‑5D, as a research tool.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross‑sectional survey was conducted in a large group of patients with COPD (n = 9310). The data were obtained using a specially designed questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of the study population were patients with mild and moderate COPD (stage 1 and 2 according to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease, 16% and 54%, respectively). Lower QoL, reported by patients, was shown for each stage of the disease, including patients with mild‑to‑moderate COPD. Significant differences were observed between the groups of patients stratified by spirometry results in the perceived health state assessed using the questionnaire and the visual analogue scale (VAS), and the results of the EQ‑5D correlated with those of the VAS. We observed a statistically significant effect of comorbidities (especially heart failure) and severe (or very severe) COPD on the health status reported by patients (linear regression model, P < 0.001). Patients with history of exacerbations had higher VAS scores (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The EQ‑5D along with VAS seems to be a useful tool in assessing the health status of patients with COPD. Of note, significant limitations affecting the various aspects of patients' lives were reported also in milder stages of COPD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Pathophysiology, Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, Warszawa, Poland. piotr.boros@gmail.com
authors.forename: Piotr W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Boros
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lubiński
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires