Abstract
Background
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) is categorized by the percentage of the predicted FEV1(Forced expiratory volume in 1 second) result which is highly correlated with disease severity(morbidity and mortality). In COPD patients, dyspnea seems to be different from disease severity. We investigated whether dyspnea is correlated with disease severity, as measured by FEV1, quality of life(QoL), occupation, and supporting level of family members and neighbors.
Method
Thirty-six clinically stable patients with chronically irreversible airflow limitation were enrolled. We used the Medical Research Council(MRC) dyspnea scale to assess the level of dyspnea and the Korean St. Goerge's respiratory questionnaire(SGRQ) as measure the QoL.
Result
The mean percentage of the predicted FEV1 was 32.0%. Dyspnea was not correlated with GOLD stage using FEV1(p=0.114). With deteriorating level of dyspnea the scores of symptoms(p=0.041), activity(p=0.004), impact(p=0.001), and total SGRQ score(p<0.001) were significantly increased. Dyspnea was not correlated with the level of occupation(p=0.259). The supporting level of family members and neighbors was significantly negatively correlated with dyspnea scale(p=0.011).
Figures and Tables
Figure 1
Relationship between SGRQ score and MRC dyspnea scale.
*p<0.05 for comparison with patients with MRC scale 1& 2.
†p<0.05 for comparison with patients with MRC scale 3.
‡p<0.05 for comparison with patients with MRC scale 4.
![trd-60-397-g001](/upload/SynapseData/ArticleImage/0003trd/trd-60-397-g001.jpg)
Figure 2
Relationship between MRC dyspnea scale and supporting level of patients' families and neighbors(p=0.011). For definition of class 1, 2 and 3, see the method of text.
![trd-60-397-g002](/upload/SynapseData/ArticleImage/0003trd/trd-60-397-g002.jpg)
Table 2
Relationship between MRC dyspnea scale and GOLD stage of COPD*
![trd-60-397-i002](/upload/SynapseData/ArticleImage/0003trd/trd-60-397-i002.jpg)
Data are presented as n value with percentage in parentheses.
*the test for correlation, p=0.14. See Table 1 for abbreviations.
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