Correlation of depression levels and quality of life with severity of disease in COPD patients - A cross sectional study

Background: Depression is associated with impaired quality of life in COPD subjects. We assessed the prevalence of depression and its association with the quality of life and COPD severity. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional study of 120 COPD subjects. At the time of the inclusion, clinical data, forced spirometry, 6 min walking distance, BODE index, SGRQ, depression levels and health related quality of life were determined. Results: Mean age of the patients was 57.82±7.58 years. 57% of the individuals recruited for the study had moderate to very severe COPD. Prevalence of depression was 75%. The mean HAM-D and quality of life (MCS SF36; PCS SF36) total score of these patients were 14.22±7.56 and 55.96±21.07; 52.73±14.2 respectively. The severity of COPD was positively correlated with severity of depression and showed a negative correlation with the quality of life. COPD exacerbations and hospitalizations have a positive correlation with the severity of depression and a negative correlation with the physical activity levels and quality of life. Conclusion: Depression scores, levels of physical activity and quality of life were significantly different in patients suffering from mild COPD when compared to that of patients suffering with moderate to very severe COPD. Patients with severe depression have impaired physical activity levels and poor health related quality of life on all aspects.