Review Article
Year: 2019 | Month: October | Volume: 6 | Issue: 10 | Pages: 28-34
Health-Related Quality of Life in COPD Patients and SGRQ: A Review Analysis
Prof. Dr. Gitumoni Konwar
Dean cum Principal, Royal School of Nursing, the Assam Royal Global University, Betkuchi, Opp. TirupathiBalaji Temple, NH-37, Guwahati, 781035
ABSTRACT
Objective: The objective of the review was to create awareness among health care professional regarding impact of Health related quality of life among COPD patients as measured by St George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ).
Results: COPD is a common chronic condition that severely affects patients' health-related quality of life. The patients in more sever disease stages, as defined by the GOLD guidelines, presented with a poorer HRQOL. Dyspnoea is one of the major symptoms that- impact their quality of life. Physiologic recovery after an exacerbation is often incomplete. Exacerbation decreases health-related quality of life and resistance to future exacerbations. COPD is associated with significant co-morbidities and extra-pulmonary manifestations. The effort made to describe the disability in COPD by FEV1 predicted % is inadequate. Hence additional measurements of breathlessness-dyspnea and functional capacity (6-MWT) are necessary. COPD is an irreversible and progressive disease, and hence medical and surgical care results in very little improvement of lung function or survival of these individuals.
Conclusion: Pulmonary rehabilitation and regular physical activity are indicated in all severities of COPD to improve quality of life. Since cure is impossible, improvement of HRQOL is an important objective of the treatment and nursing care. The questionnaire most widely used to assess HRQOL in COPD is the Saint George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ).
Key words: Health related quality of life(HRQOL), COPD, St George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), GOLD classification of severity of COPD, Dyspnea
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