COPD assessment test - new tool for evaluation of COPD

Abstract

Background: A short, easy-to-use health status questionnaire is needed in the multidimensional assessment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in routine practice. The COPD assessment test (CAT) is a short, easy-to-complete health status tool that has been developed to help patients and their clinicians assess, quantify the symptoms and impacts of COPD and enable better communication between patients and physicians about these consequences of their disease. It was demonstrated that it has good measurement properties, is sensitive to differences in state and should provide a valid, reliable measure of COPD health status. The aim of this study was to detect the factors that can predict HRQL in patients with COPD. Methods: Into the study were enrolled 60consecutive COPD patients. They were analyzed age, gender, anthropometric, pack years, spirometry, BODE index. Health-related quality of life was assessed by the CAT and the St. George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). Results: 60 COPD patients were studied, mean age was 60.2±7.5 years, mean FEV1, % was 34.6± 11.3%. Patients across all stages GOLD/ATS/ERS classification had similar age and pack/years (p>0.01). Pearson correlation coefficient analysis demonstrates in COPD patients a significant positive correlation be­tween the CAT and the total score of the SGRQ (r=0.59, p<0.01). Also correlations between CAT and MRC score are significant (r=0.48, p<0.01). CAT score correlated negatively with 6 MWD (r = -0.52, p<0.01). The forward stepwise regression analysis shows that the age, dyspnea and oxygen saturation are important predictors of HRQL in COPD patients which explains 58% of the CAT score. Conclusion: The CAT is a simple and easy-to-use questionnaire that distinguishes between patients of different degrees of COPD severity. Age, dyspnea and oxygen saturation in patients with COPD are independent risk factors for worsening of HRQL.