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Research ArticleOriginal Contributions

Quality of Life and Social-Economic Characteristics of Greek Male Patients on Long-Term Oxygen Therapy

Venetia Tsara, Eva Serasli, Zoe Katsarou, Aggeliki Tsorova and Pandora Christaki
Respiratory Care August 2008, 53 (8) 1048-1053;
Venetia Tsara
2nd Chest Clinic, General Hospital, G Papanikolaou, Thessaloniki, Greece.
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  • For correspondence: [email protected]
Eva Serasli
2nd Chest Clinic, General Hospital, G Papanikolaou, Thessaloniki, Greece.
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Zoe Katsarou
Neurologic Clinic, Ippokration General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
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Aggeliki Tsorova
2nd Chest Clinic, General Hospital, G Papanikolaou, Thessaloniki, Greece.
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Pandora Christaki
2nd Chest Clinic, General Hospital, G Papanikolaou, Thessaloniki, Greece.
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) profoundly impacts patients' functional status, especially in the advanced stages, when long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) is implemented.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with COPD and using LTOT, and assess the relationship of socioeconomic characteristics and pulmonary function test results to HRQOL scores.

METHODS: We studied a group of 85 patients with COPD and hypoxemia who were on LTOT, and a control group of 48 patients with stable COPD but without hypoxemia. All subjects were asked to rate their dyspnea on the Modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale, and to take the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF-36), the General Health Questionnaire (30 questions), and a questionnaire (which we developed for this study) to measure their independence in activities of daily living (ADL). We also conducted pulmonary function tests and arterial blood gas analyses, and recorded socioeconomic characteristics.

RESULTS: The subjects' socioeconomic status was moderate to low. HRQOL was impaired in patients on LTOT, especially in the physical function domain, and most of the examined dimensions correlated with the severity of dyspnea and psychological status. There was a significant association between ADL score and SF-36 score in the vitality and physical domains, but there was no significant association between HRQOL score and spirometry or blood gas values.

CONCLUSIONS: HRQOL in patients with COPD and on LTOT is low and is influenced by dyspnea, mental status, and incapacity, rather than by physiological variables. We recommend a multidimensional therapeutic approach that targets symptom-control and ADL support to improve the patient's overall HRQOL.

  • chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  • COPD
  • longterm oxygen therapy
  • LTOT
  • health-related quality of life
  • HRQOL
  • dyspnea
  • activities of daily living
  • ADL
  • pulmonary function tests
  • blood gases analysis
  • socioeconomic
  • Greece
  • Greek

Footnotes

  • Correspondence: Venetia Tsara MD PhD, 2nd Chest Clinic, General Hospital, G Papanikolaou, Thessaloniki, Greece. E-mail: bpneumonologiki{at}yahoo.gr.
  • Copyright © 2008 by Daedalus Enterprises Inc.
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Respiratory Care: 53 (8)
Respiratory Care
Vol. 53, Issue 8
1 Aug 2008
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Quality of Life and Social-Economic Characteristics of Greek Male Patients on Long-Term Oxygen Therapy
Venetia Tsara, Eva Serasli, Zoe Katsarou, Aggeliki Tsorova, Pandora Christaki
Respiratory Care Aug 2008, 53 (8) 1048-1053;

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Quality of Life and Social-Economic Characteristics of Greek Male Patients on Long-Term Oxygen Therapy
Venetia Tsara, Eva Serasli, Zoe Katsarou, Aggeliki Tsorova, Pandora Christaki
Respiratory Care Aug 2008, 53 (8) 1048-1053;
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Keywords

  • chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  • COPD
  • longterm oxygen therapy
  • LTOT
  • health-related quality of life
  • HRQOL
  • dyspnea
  • activities of daily living
  • ADL
  • pulmonary function tests
  • blood gases analysis
  • socioeconomic
  • Greece
  • Greek

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