title: COPD assessment test (CAT): simple tool for evaluating quality of life of chemical warfare patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the serious late pulmonary complications caused by sulphur mustard exposure. Health status evaluations of chemical warfare patients with COPD are important to the management of these patients. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of the COPD assessment test (CAT) in evaluating the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of chemical warfare patients with COPD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-two consecutive patients with stable COPD were enrolled in this study. All subjects were visited by one physician, and the HRQOL was evaluated by the CAT and St. George Respiratory Questionnaires (SGRQs). In addition, a standard spirometry test, 6-min walk distance test and pulse oxymetry were conducted. The severity of the COPD was determined using Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) staging and the body mass index, obstruction, dyspnoea and exercise (BODE) index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the patients was 47.30 ± 7.08 years. The mean CAT score was 26.03 ± 8.28. Thirty-five (43%) patients were in CAT stage 3. There were statistically significant correlations between the CAT and the SGRQ (r = 0.70, P = 0.001) and the BODE index (r = 0.70, P = 0.001). A statistically significant inverse correlation was found between the CAT score and the forced expiratory volume in 1 s (r = -0.30, P = 0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results demonstrated that the CAT is a simple and valid tool for assessment of HRQOL in chemical warfare patients with COPD and can be used in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, COPD Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Shahrzad M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lari
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ghobadi
authors.forename: Davood
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Attaran
authors.forename: Afsoun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mahmoodpour
authors.forename: Omid
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Shadkam
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rostami
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009151:Mustard Gas / Q000009:adverse effects; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014857:Warfare
chemical_list: D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D009151:Mustard Gas
keywords: COPD; quality of life; spirometry; sulphur mustard