Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation
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We aimed to assess whether partially reversible and fixed airway obstructions are associated with different health status profiles of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. We characterized health status profiles of outpatients over 64 years suffering from COPD with fixed (n = 181) or partially reversible obstruction (n = 95) and from chronic bronchitis with forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) > 69% of that predicted (n = 109) on the basis of the Saint George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and indexes assessing cognitive (Mini Mental State), affective (15-item Geriatric Depression Scale) and physical status (Index of Barthel, six-minute walking test) and quality of sleep (Index of disturbed sleep). The degree of group-specificity of health status profiles was assessed by discriminant analysis. ⋯ According to logistic regression analysis, this health status profile was associated with FEV < 46% of that predicted (odds ratio (OR): 1.6, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.07-2.38), the use of at least three respiratory drugs (OR: 2.28, CI: 1.46-3.57) and living alone (OR: 2.01, 95% CI: 1.3-2.29). COPD patients with fixed obstruction had a very heterogeneous health status. Research is needed to verify whether the unfavorable health status profile typical of a subset of COPD patients is associated with a distinctive prognosis and can be improved by dedicated therapeutic interventions.
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Comparative Study
Psychometric validation of an overactive bladder symptom and health-related quality of life questionnaire: the OAB-q.
Overactive bladder (OAB) is characterized by symptoms of urinary frequency and urgency, with and without incontinence, and has been shown to have significant impact on health-related quality of life (HRQL). Currently, no OAB-specific questionnaires exist to evaluate all symptoms of OAB; thus we sought to evaluate the psychometric properties of a newly developed OAB HRQL questionnaire. ⋯ The OAB-q is a reliable and valid instrument that discriminates between normal and clinically diagnosed continent and incontinent OAB participants. The OAB-q demonstrates that both continent and incontinent OAB symptoms cause significant symptom bother and have a negative impact on HRQL.