title: Depression and anxiety symptoms in bronchiectasis: associations with health-related quality of life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Bronchiectasis causes pulmonary infections and loss of lung function, resulting in chronic respiratory symptoms and worsening health-related quality of life. The aims of this study were to measure symptoms of depression and anxiety in a sample of patients with bronchiectasis and evaluate their relationship to health outcomes and health-related quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study included adolescents and adults with bronchiectasis. Patients completed the hospital anxiety and depression scale and the St. George respiratory questionnaire. Health outcome data, including clinical, radiological and spirometric values, were recorded from medical charts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-three participants with bronchiectasis of any aetiology were recruited: 20 % had elevated depression-related scores and 38 % had elevated anxiety-related scores. Increased symptoms of depression and anxiety were significantly associated with age; anxiety was associated with more frequent exacerbations. Regression analyses indicated that after controlling for demographic (gender and age) and clinical variables (exacerbations frequency, daily sputum, aetiology and spirometry), both depression and anxiety symptoms predicted significantly worse health-related quality of life. In comparison with other predictors, psychological symptoms explained the largest amount of variance in health-related quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Symptoms of depression and anxiety were significant predictors of health-related quality of life in patients with bronchiectasis, independently of respiratory involvement, gender, age or other variables.
authors.affiliation: Pneumology Service, Carlos Haya University Hospital, Avenida Carlos Haya, 29010, Malaga, Spain. casi1547@separ.es
authors.forename: Casilda
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Olveira
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Olveira
authors.forename: Inmaculada
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gaspar
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dorado
authors.forename: Ivette
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Soriguer
authors.forename: Alexandra L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Quittner
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Espildora
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D001987:Bronchiectasis / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires