Evaluation of quality of life (QOL) of Tunisians patients with COPD

Aim To test the Arabic version of the St. George's Hospital Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) in stable Tunisian COPD patients. Hypotheses A correlation coefficient between the post-bronchodilator FEV1 and the “Total” score of SGRQ higher than “−0.40”, and QOL scores lower in COPD with “mild to moderate airway obstruction” than in those with “severe to very severe airway obstruction” will be in favor of a possible application of the Arabic version of the SGRQ in Tunisians COPD patients. Methods This is a prospective cross-sectional study including 50 clinically stable COPD patients. The Arabic version of the SGRQ was used. Four scores were calculated for the “Symptoms”, “Activities”, “Impacts” and “Total” components. Patients were divided into two groups according to the severity of their airway obstruction: “mild to moderate, n = 30” and “severe to very severe, n = 20”. The correlation between the QOL “Total” score and postBD FEV1 was evaluated. Results The mean ± SD of age, cigarette smoking and post-bronchodilator FEV1 were, respectively, 60 ± 10, 61 ± 36 pack-years and 55 ± 20 %. The correlation between the post-bronchodilator FEV1 and QOL “Total” score was significant at “−0.65”. “Symptoms”, “Activities”, “Impacts” and “Total” scores were significantly less altered in patients with “mild to moderate airway obstruction” than among those with “severe to very severe airway obstruction” (respectively, 52 ± 24 vs. 77 ± 17, 66 ± 28 vs. 87 ± 18, 48 ± 25 vs. 70 ± 23 and 54 ± 22 vs. 76 ± 17). Conclusion The application of the Arabic version of the SGRQ in stable COPD patients gives reliable results.