The Airflow Obstruction and Subjective Health Status Among Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients Residing in the Community

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to examine the relationship between airflow obstruction and subjective health status reported by stable patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) residing in the community. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with 78 stable COPD patients aged 69.7 years old on average and selected by a convenient sampling from an outpatient department of pulmonology in tertiary hospitals. They completed a constructed questionnaire including general characteristics, smoking history, dyspnea by modified medical research council (mMRC) scale, and health status by COPD assessment test (CAT). Anthropometric measurements were performed for body mass index (BMI) and pulse oxymetry for O₂ saturation (Sat O₂). Medical records were reviewed to obtain disease-related characteristics including duration of the disease, cardiovascular comorbidity, and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁). Data were analyzed using PASW statistics 20.0. RESULTS: Mean FEV₁% and CAT scores were 55.11% and 17.73, respectively. Those in the lower stage of mMRC showed significantly higher FEV1 and lower CAT. FEV1 and CAT showed significant negative correlations; age and BMI with FEV₁, and Sat O₂ with CAT. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that the less airway obstruction was, the better health status was, and provide the support for using subjective measures in clinical practices for COPD patients.