Factors affecting health status in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

The aim of this study is to determine the correlation between the quality of life (QOL) and subjective dyspnoea, subjective fatigue, sleep quality, and the forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV₁) % predicted value and collective contribution of these variables on QOL. The study was conducted with 102 patients. Pulmonary function tests (FEV₁ % predicted value, FEV₁/forced vital capacity), subjective dyspnoea, subjective fatigue, sleep quality were assessed. There were negative correlations between QOL total score and pulmonary function tests, positive correlations between QOL total score and subjective dyspnoea score, subjective fatigue and sleep quality total scores. In addition, subjective dyspnoea, subjective fatigue and sleep quality total scores and FEV₁ % predicted value accounted for 68.1% of the variance on QOL. As a conclusion of these findings, it has been recommended that these variables should be considered when planning an approach towards improving the QOL in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.