Characteristics and health related quality of life in a population with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a cross-sectional study

Background It is important to understand the total burden of COPD and thereby be able to identify patients who need more intensive palliative care to avoid deteriorated quality of life. The aim of this study was to describe the psychosocial and demographic characteristics of a population with advanced COPD in a stable phase of the disease. Methods This study was cross-sectional based on a prospective observational cohort. The following questionnaires were administered: Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire (CRQ), The COPD Assessment Test (CAT), The Hospital and Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), The Medical Research Council dyspnoea scale (MRC), and self-rate general health. Results We included 242 patients with advanced COPD from a Danish pulmonary outpatient clinic. Their mean FEV(1)was 38% (+/- 12.7) and 19% were treated with long term oxygen. The mean CRQ domain score was CRQ-dyspnea 4.21 (+/- 1.4), CRQ-Mastery 4.88 (+/- 1.3), CRQ-Emotional 4.81 (+/- 1.2), CRQ-Fatigue 3.93 (+/- 1.3). The mean CAT-score was 18.4 (+/- 6.7), and 44% had a CAT score > 20. The mean score on the subscale for anxiety (HADS-A) and depression (HADS-D) was 5.07 (+/- 3.9) and 5.77 (+/- 3.9), respectively. Thirty percent self-rated their health as bad or very bad and 19.8% were current smokers. Conclusions This study describes the characteristics of a population with advanced COPD in a stable phase of their disease. Our results illustrate how the population although treated in an outpatient structure already focusing on palliative needs, still live with unmet palliative needs and impaired quality of life.