title: Symptom burden in stable COPD patients with moderate or severe airflow limitation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe a multidimensional symptom profile in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and determine whether symptom experience differed between patients with moderate or severe airflow limitations.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Patients with severe airflow limitation experience numerous symptoms, but little is known regarding patients with moderate airflow limitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multidimensional symptom profile (Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale) was assessed in 42 outpatients with moderate and 49 with severe airflow limitations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean number of symptoms in the total sample was 7.9 (±4.3) with no difference between patients with moderate and severe airflow limitations. The most prevalent symptoms with the highest MSAS symptom burden scores were shortness of breath, dry mouth, cough, sleep problems, and lack of energy in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with moderate or severe airflow limitations experience multiple symptoms with high severity and distress. An assessment of their multidimensional symptom profile might contribute to better symptom management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Welfare Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linkoping University, 581 85 Linkoping, Sweden. Electronic address: Jeanette.eckerblad@liu.se.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eckerblad
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Welfare Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linkoping University, 581 85 Linkoping, Sweden; Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University Hospital, 581 85 Linkoping, Sweden.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tödt
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University Hospital, 581 85 Linkoping, Sweden.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jakobsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Welfare Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linkoping University, 581 85 Linkoping, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Unosson
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linkoping University, 581 85 Linkoping Sweden.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Skargren
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Ryhov Hospital, Jonkoping S-551 85, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kentsson
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, Science and Technology, Department of Health Sciences, Nursing, Karlstad University, 656 37 Karlstad, Sweden; Primary Care Research Unit, Varmland County Council, Karlstad, Sweden.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Theander
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology
keywords: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Respiratory nursing; Symptom assessment; Symptom experience