Disability in COPD and its relationship to clinical and patient-reported outcomes

AbstractObjective:To assess the presence of disability in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and its relationships with disease severity, comorbidities, and patient-reported outcomes.Research design and method:COPD outpatients completed validated questionnaires designed to investigate illness perception, well-being, quality of life, and stress, while physicians collected data concerning disability, dyspnea, and comorbidities (Charlson Index).Results:Of 164 patients, 37.3% exhibited a degree of disability and 67.7 % of them reported the loss of at least one relevant function in daily life (mean 2.34 ± 2.41). Although disability was associated with disease severity (χ2 = 8.292; p < 0.016), disability was present to some degree in all disease stages and in 44.9% of patients with moderate COPD. Barthel Index scores were related to MRC scores (r = 0.529; p < 0.001), GOLD stage (r = 0.223; p < 0.006), and Charlson Index (r = 0.163; p < 0.032). Disabled patients had a lower mean FEV1 value (50...