[Quality of life in patients with COPD and long term oxygen therapy]

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) leads to disability, being long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) fundamental in final stages. It is important to assess its impact on patient's daily life.

To describe factors that determine the quality of life in COPD patients with LTOT, taking into account demographic variables: age and sex, Physiological: POST BD FEV1, BMI, hours of use of OCD and SpO2, Psychological: Dyspnea: St. George's questionnaire (SGRQ ) and Hospital Anxiety and depression Scale.

Observational, cross. 26 patients were included without associated comorbidities.

73.07% male, age: 61.73 ± 1.48 years, the average hours of use of LTOT was equal to 18.88 ± 0.77 hours, the average post-BD FEV 1 was 34.23 ± 2.63%. More anxiety and depression were observed among females. Age had an inverse correlation with the lung function but it had positive lineal correlation with the perception of dyspnea. There was less perception of dyspnea with more hours of use of LTOT. Statistical significance was achieved for the perception of dyspnea and post BD FEV1 as well as with perception of dyspnea and anxiety /depression (p< 0.05).

Anxiety and depression are highly prevalent symptoms in patients with severe COPD that also use LTOT, being higher in women. We stress the importance of using validated scales of quality of life and mental health status, to assess the overall impact of disease and optimize the treatment.