title: Comparison of health-related quality of life between patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the general population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with lower health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Previous research has focused primarily on HRQOL in these patients, whereas few studies have compared HRQOL between patients with COPD and the general population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in HRQOL between patients with COPD stage 2 to COPD stage 4 waiting to begin an outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) programme and Norwegian individuals with and without other chronic conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comparative survey design was used in this study of 100 patients with COPD waiting to begin PR and 3594 individuals from the general population. The SF-36 questionnaire was used to evaluate HRQOL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the healthy general population, COPD patients waiting to begin PR had lower scores on all SF-36 components and on the physical and mental health summary components (p < 0.001). Scores for physical function, physical role, general health, vitality, social function, emotional role and the physical health component differed markedly between patients and the general population. Patients with COPD stage 4 had lower HRQOL than did the general population and those with COPD stage 2 and COPD stage 3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The burden of COPD significantly affects HRQOL in patients with COPD waiting to begin PR, and those with COPD stage 4 are most affected. Action should be taken to support especially those patients with COPD stage 4.
authors.affiliation: Stord/Haugesund University College, Department of Health Education, Haugesund, Norway; Department of Research, Haugesund Hospital, Haugesund, Norway.
authors.forename: Signe Berit
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Bentsen
authors.forename: Berit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rokne
authors.forename: Astrid Klopstad
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Wahl
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D009664:Norway; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011788:Quality of Life
keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; general population; health-related quality of life; pulmonary rehabilitation