Geriatrics & gerontology international
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Geriatr Gerontol Int · Jan 2010
Emphysema on imaging is associated with quality of life in elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Limited data are available on the association between the severity of emphysema or airway narrowing, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which has been seen to be more prevalent among elderly subjects. The aim of this study was to examine the association between HRQOL, physical parameters and structural alterations in lung of COPD patients. ⋯ We concluded that the severity of emphysema, but not that of large airway narrowing on HRCT, is associated with both generic and health-related QOL and reduced diffusion capacity. This notion might provide useful information in practice among elderly subjects who are unable to perform a spirometry.