Quality of life (SF-36) in patients with chronic respiratory disease

Abstract

Background: Chronic Respiratory Diseases (CRD) are a group of pathologies with lung and/or airway involvement with a slow progression and without definitive curative treatment. Among the most frequent CRD we highlight chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Objectives: To analyze health-related quality of life in patients diagnosed with COPD, asthma and OSA.

Measurements/Methods: Observational study, random sampling and stratified by age (>18 years) of the population of the Municipality of A Estrada (n=1516). Variables: sociodemographic, alcohol, tobacco and physical activity; The SF-36 quality of life questionnaire was completed.

Results: Adjusting for age and sex, a statistically significant association was found between chronic respiratory diseases and the roles physical function, physical role, vitality, general health and health transition; men have a higher overall score on all SF-36 items except health transition; and a statistically significant non-linear association has been found between age and physical function, physical role, vitality, bodily pain, general health and health transition.

Conclusions: Men suffer more from CRD. Quality of life is better in men than in women and is worse in patients with CRD. There is a statistically significant association between CRD and the components physical function, physical role, vitality, general health and health transition. The same occurs with age but in a non-linear way.