Is there a correlation between the bronchiectasis severity and health-related quality of life?

Abstract

Background: To analyze the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in bronchiectasis, the Quality of Life in Bronchiectasis (QoLB) questionnaire was proposed. HRQoL may be reduced, however, it is not known about the association with the disease severity, evaluated by multidimensional indices, due to the heterogeneity of bronchiectasis. Aims: To evaluate anxiety, depression, and HRQoL in patients with bronchiectasis, using QoLB, and correlate with disease severity. Methods: Twenty-six individuals with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis of both sexes, 56 ± 16 years, were classified by the Bronchiectasis Severity Index (BSI) and answered the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and QoLB. Results: None of the subjects presented cognitive loss when assessed by MMSE (25.84 ± 2.70) so, they were considered to be able to respond to QoLB. The anxiety and depression rates were 5.6 ± 4.22 and 5.24 ± 3.19, respectively. There was no significant correlations (p> 0.05) between BSI and HADS and between BSI and QoLB domains (physical functioning, role functioning, vitality, emotional functioning, social functioning, treatment burden, health perceptions, and respiratory symptoms). Conclusions: Although both instruments are specific for bronchiectasis, the results suggest that the severity of the disease-related neither with the perception of anxiety and depression, nor with the quality of life assessed by QoLB.