[COPD ASSESSMENT TEST (CAT) IN PULMONARY REHABILITATION – OUR EXPERIENCE]

Introduction: Development of COPD Assessment Test (CAT) has enabled quick, reliable and valid measurement of the impact of the disease on the quality of life. The aim of this study is to establish whether the CAT questionnaire may be useful in evaluation of the quality of life in patients with COPD before and after pulmonary rehabilitation. Method: This study was conducted on 47 patients. Patients have completed the CAT questionnaire before and after rehabilitation. Efficiency analysis of rehabilitation procedures included measuring FEV1 – physiological measure of disease severity and MRC dyspnoea scale. Results: There was a difference in most items of the CAT questionnaire, total score (before rehabilitation 19, after rehabilitation 12) and MRC scale, indicating a better quality of life after rehabilitation. The difference in FEV1 was not statistically significant. There was a significant positive correlation between the CAT score and MRC scale and between the CAT score and duration of rehabilitation. The correlation between the FEV1 and CAT score was negative and not statistically significant. Conclusion: The CAT questionnaire is simple and applicable in the evaluation of the quality of life in patients with COPD, as well as a useful outcome measure for the evaluation of efficiency for pulmonary rehabilitation.