Introduction:

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a frequent entity, characterized by airflow limitation. The approximation using pulmonary function tests is not sufficient when assessing its impact on patients’ quality of life.

Objective:

to characterize health-related quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease of the Hospital Universitario de Santander.

Materials and methods:

an observational cross-sectional study was performed. In the pulmonology department of the Hospital Universitario de Santander. The questionnaire was used for the assessment of Health-Related Quality of Life; self-reported measures of physical and mental condition were included, calculating measures of healthy days.

Results:

44 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were included. The average age 65,5 (± 10,3) men, 88% in socioeconomic status 1 or 2. The mean FEV1 percentage of 37.17%. Perceived health: 43% regular and 34% good. The median of physically unhealthy days was 2.5, mentally unhealthy days 0, pain days 3, perception of depression 2.5, anxiety 2, sleeplessness 0, and vitality 10, index of unhealthy days 23.5 and frequent mental distress 18%.

Conclusions:

patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease perceive their health status as regular, with a low number of healthy days, which is related to a high impact on their quality of life. MÉD.UIS. 2017;30(2):11-9.

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