Changes in quality of life and physiological status in newly diagnosed COPD patients

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may cause some psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety, similar to other chronic diseases.We aimed to assess if the diagnosis of COPD and beginning of bronchodilator therapy may affect the quality of life and physiological status of the patients. Method: Newly diagnosed COPD outpatients were included.Pulmonary function tests (PFT), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS),Beck Depression Scale and St. George9s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) were performed at the first visit and six months later. Results: There were high scores of anxiety in 23.5% and depression in 38.2%(HADS)-52.9% (BECK) of 90 newly diagnosed COPD patients(71 men-19 women) at the first visit. The symptoms of anxiety decreased to 19%,depression to 33.3% (HADS)/47.6% (BECK) six months later. Besides, there was improvement in FEV1 and FVC levels in 57.1% of patients.All the participants with lower spirometrics levels (42.9%) were still smoking. 65% of patients decribed a regression in pulmonary symptoms after 6 months treatment. There was improvement in quality of live according to SGRQ in 68.1% of participants. There was negative correlation between FEV1 levels and SGRQ score (p=0.045).There was a significant relationship between the regression of anxiety-depression scores and cessation of smoking after the diagnosis of COPD (p=0.003 and 0.026). Conclusions: Pulmonary symptoms may regress with the bronchodilator therapy at newly diagnosed COPD patients, which causes an improvement in pulmonary functions, physiological status and quality of life. Cessation of smoking will be the best contribution to this situation.