Lucija Caren, Marta Čivljak, Lea Skokandić

DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.64332/ujbb.25.1.1

Abstract
Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a long-term narrowing of the airways caused by emphysema or chronic bronchitis. In addition to physical symptoms, it affects psychological and social functioning.

Aim: This study aims to examine the correlation between specific aspects of the perceived health-related quality of life and the presence of negative emotional states – depression, anxiety and stress in individuals with COPD.

Methods: We conducted an observational cross-sectional study in 2023 on a convenience sample of patients with COPD who were treated at the Pulmonology Clinic of the General Hospital “Dr. Ivo Pedišić” in Sisak, Croatia. We collected data with a questionnaire that included questions on personal characteristics, general health status, and COPD burden, along with two standardized instruments: the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS) and the St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ-S). Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and parametric tests, specifically Pearson’s correlation coefficient.

Results: A total of 128 participants were included in the study. Limitations in health-related quality of life were significantly correlated with the level of stress (r=0.80; p<0.01), anxiety (r=0.83; p<0.01) and depression (r=0.80; p<0.01). Reduced quality of life was associated with participants’ age (r=0.49, p<0.01) and the duration of the disease (r=0.48, p<0.01). Low to moderate coefficients of Person correlation (0.35 to 0.41) point to a significant correlation between age, duration of the disease, and the appearance of negative emotional states.

Conclusion: The reduced health-related quality of life and the occurrence of negative emotional states in patients with COPD represent a significant problem in the patient’s life, especially in those with advanced disease. In the treatment of patients with COPD, in addition to assessing the physical condition, attention should also be paid to the psychosocial assessment. An interdisciplinary approach should be included in the assessment and treatment of people with COPD, to provide better quality of healthcare services.

Keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, health-related quality of life, stress, anxiety, depression