Scales of assesment in COPD. Correlation with clinical and functional parameters

Purpose: To evaluate the correlation between MRC dyspnea scale and CAT (COPD assesment scale) and each of them with clinical and functional parameters. Method: The study included COPD outpatients in stable stage. Clinical (including comorbidities) and functional data were collected. In each patient was recorded the degree of dyspnea (MRC scale), and CAT questionnaire score. In addition to basic descriptive statistical study, Pearson correlation coefficient was used, and a multiple linear regression between factors that had shown a significant correlation. Statistical significance was assigned to p Results: 94 patients were studied (76 men), 23 were current smokers, 49 patients had comorbidities (cardiologic disease in 20.2% of all). They had an average of 1.62 exacerbations in previous year (SD 0.49). The average value of CAT was 15.8 (SD 8.5). The degree of dyspnea according to MRC scale was 0 in 11 patients, 1 in 44, 2 in 27, 3 in 10 y 4 in 2 patients. There was a significant correlation between degree of MCR and CAT (p Conclusion: There is a significant correlation between MRC scale and CAT score. The parameter wich shows more correlation with MRC scale was FEV1 as percentage. The data that is associated independently with CAT questionnaire score was the number of exacerbations in previous year.