[Determinants of quality of life in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is considered as a systemic disease with pulmonary starting point. The use of spirometry alone is certainly not the best way to reflect the impact of disease on quality of life for patients.

Prospective study concerning 70 patients treated for COPD. Quality of life was assessed using the French version of the Saint-George questionnaire.

Our population was predominantly male (97%) with a mean age of 63 years. All patients were smokers with an average of 46 pack-years. The total score of the Saint-Georges respiratory questionnaire was 50.7%. The mean scores of different fields were 68% for the field activities, 49% for impact and 26% for the item of symptoms. The multidimensional BODE index was correlated with the quality of life and its various fields were more powerfully than the forced expiratory volume per second, the number of exacerbations, the six-minute walking test and dyspnea score.

It is important to integrate the multidimensional classification indices in assessing the severity of the disease because only these indices can reflect the systemic aspect of the disease.