QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH STABLE CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE IN A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE- A HOSPITAL-BASED STUDY

Background:Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major and increasing global health problem .Analyzing the mental, physical and social aspects of this disease is necessary to improve the quality of life (QOL) of COPD patients.

Methodology: This study was carried out in 100 stable COPD patients.Detailed history ,general and systemic examination were done.Routine blood investigations, Chest x-ray and spirometry  were done.Patients were asked to complete St. Georges Respiratory Questionnaire for COPD patients (SGRQ-C) (simple malayalam version) as honestly as they can.Statistical analysis:Descriptive statistical tools like mean, standard deviation, median was used. 

Result:A total of 100 COPD patientswith a mean age of 66.91 years and a standard deviation of 7.93 yearswere included in the study in which 95% were males. Study showedsignificant difference between the mild and moderate groups (p <0.001), mild and severe groups (p <0.001), mild and very severe groups (p <0.001). No significant difference between moderate and severe groups, moderate and very severe groups and between severe and very severe groups was found.So we can conclude that the median SGRQ score in the mild COPD group was significantly less compared to all the other groups and that there was no significant difference between the other groups.