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Original Article06-15-2009The impact of smoking cessation on patient quality of life
Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia. 2009;35(5):436-441
Abstract
Original ArticleThe impact of smoking cessation on patient quality of life
Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia. 2009;35(5):436-441
DOI 10.1590/S1806-37132009000500008
Views11See moreOBJECTIVE: To evaluate changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after twelve months of smoking cessation. METHODS: This was a prospective study to evaluate the effectiveness of a smoking cessation program on the quality of life of 60 self-referred subjects, at a public hospital, during the period of August 2006 to December 2007. The program consisted of 2-h group sessions once a week during the first month and then every 15 days over six months, followed by monthly phone contacts for another six months. The treatment was based on behavior modification and the use of bupropion in combination with nicotinic replacement therapy. Abstinence was verified by exhaled CO measurements. Patient HRQoL was quantified using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire. Differences in quality of life scores between quitters and non-quitters at twelve months after the initial intervention were evaluated using analysis of covariance with baseline characteristics as covariates. RESULTS: Self-reported quality of life scores were significantly higher among the 40 quitters than among the 20 non-quitters. The following SF-36 domains were most affected: role-emotional (p = 0.008); general health (p = 0.006); vitality (p < 0.001); and mental health (p = 0.002). At twelve months after the smoking cessation intervention, the SF-36 mental component and physical component summary scores were higher among quitters than among non-quitters (p = 0.004 and p = 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings illustrate that smoking abstinence is related to better HRQoL, especially in aspects of mental health.
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Original Article05-19-2009Comparative study of two quality of life questionnaires in patients with COPD
Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia. 2009;35(4):318-324
Abstract
Original ArticleComparative study of two quality of life questionnaires in patients with COPD
Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia. 2009;35(4):318-324
DOI 10.1590/S1806-37132009000400005
Views11See moreOBJECTIVE: To compare two quality of life questionnaires-the Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36)-in patients with COPD, focusing on the discriminative properties of the questionnaires and correlating their domains with the following variables: Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale score; Beck Depression Inventory score; visual analog scale general health perception; Mini-Mental State Examination score; and a COPD clinical score developed specifically for the study. METHODS: We interviewed 30 COPD patients between May and September of 2006. For the SF-36 and SGRQ, scores (total and domain) were compared and correlated. RESULTS: With the exception of the pain domain, all of the SF-36 domains correlated significantly with the SGRQ total score (r = -0.5 to -0.69; p < 0.01). Of the SGQR domains, only the symptoms domain correlated significantly with all of the variables studied (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of the expected correlations between the SGRQ and the SF-36 were observed, as were those expected between the two questionnaires and the other variables studied. The SGRQ, notably the symptoms domain, presented better discriminative properties than did the generic SF-36 questionnaire. The SF-36 is not an appropriate instrument for determining the affective state of COPD patients.
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Original Article04-27-2009Correlation between clinical parameters and health-related quality of life in women with COPD
Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia. 2009;35(3):248-255
Abstract
Original ArticleCorrelation between clinical parameters and health-related quality of life in women with COPD
Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia. 2009;35(3):248-255
DOI 10.1590/S1806-37132009000300009
Views16See moreOBJECTIVE: To correlate health-related quality of life (HRQL) of women with COPD with clinical parameters and with the six-minute walk distance (6MWD; six-minute walk test). METHODS: Cross-sectional study involving 30 female patients diagnosed with mild or moderate COPD treated at the Respiratory Outpatient Clinic of the Presidente Dutra University Hospital. Patients completed the Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and were evaluated in terms of respiratory pressures, spirometry parameters and 6MWD. Descriptive statistical analysis was carried out, as were Student's t-tests for dependent variables, together with Pearson's and Spearman's correlation coefficients for numerical and ordinal variables, respectively. RESULTS: According to the SGRQ total scores, HRQL was impaired, to some extent, in most of the participants. Most SGRQ total scores were between the second and the third quartiles, reflecting poor HRQL. The participants also presented poor functional capacity. Mean 6MWD (317.7 m), inspiratory muscle strength (-53.48 cmH2O) and expiratory muscle strength (69.5 cmH2O) were all below reference values. We found that HRQL was not correlated with body mass index or pulmonary function. However, HRQL presented a negative linear correlation with age, MIP and 6MWD, as well as a positive correlation with the sensation of dyspnea and fatigue. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, HRQL, determined using the SGRQ, was severely impaired in COPD patients, who presented severe limitations in functional capacity, breath control and personal life.

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Original Article03-06-2009Long-term repercussions of a pulmonary rehabilitation program on the indices of anxiety, depression, quality of life and physical performance in patients with COPD
Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia. 2009;35(2):129-136
Abstract
Original ArticleLong-term repercussions of a pulmonary rehabilitation program on the indices of anxiety, depression, quality of life and physical performance in patients with COPD
Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia. 2009;35(2):129-136
DOI 10.1590/S1806-37132009000200005
Views13OBJECTIVE: To assess the 24-month effects of a pulmonary rehabilitation program (PRP) on anxiety, depression, quality of life and physical performance of COPD patients. METHODS: Thirty patients with COPD (mean age, 60.8 ± 10 years; 70% males) participated in a 12-week PRP, which included 24 physical exercise sessions, 24 respiratory rehabilitation sessions, 12 psychotherapy sessions and 3 educational sessions. All patients were evaluated at baseline (pre-PRP), at the end of the treatment (post-PRP) and two years later (current) by means of four instruments: the Beck Anxiety Inventory; the Beck Depression Inventory; Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire; and the six-minute walk test (6MWT). RESULTS: The comparison between the pre-PRP and post-PRP values revealed a significant decrease in the levels of anxiety (pre-PRP: 10.7 ± 6.3; post-PRP: 5.5 ± 4.4; p = 0.0005) and depression (pre-PRP: 11.7 ± 6.8; post-PRP: 6.0 ± 5.8; p = 0.001), as well as significant improvements in the distance covered on the 6MWT (pre-PRP: 428.6 ± 75.0 m; post-PRP: 474.9 ± 86.3 m; p = 0.03) and the quality of life index (pre-PRP: 51.0 ± 15.9; post-PRP: 34.7 ± 15.1; p = 0.0001). There were no statistically significant differences between the post-PRP and current evaluation values. CONCLUSIONS: The benefits provided by the PRP in terms of the indices of anxiety, depression and quality of life, as well as the improved 6MWT performance, persisted throughout the 24-month study period.
Keywords:AnxietyDepressionExercisePulmonary disease, chronic obstructivequality of lifeRehabilitationSee more
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Original Article07-02-2008Assessment of the quality of life of patients with lung cancer using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey
Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia. 2008;34(6):387-393
Abstract
Original ArticleAssessment of the quality of life of patients with lung cancer using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey
Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia. 2008;34(6):387-393
DOI 10.1590/S1806-37132008000600009
Views16See moreOBJECTIVE: To assess the quality of life of patients with lung cancer and to compare it with that of individuals without cancer. METHODS: The Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) was administered to 57 patients diagnosed with lung cancer, treated at the Lung Cancer Outpatient Clinic of the Hospital São Paulo, and to a control group of 57 individuals recruited from the Extra Penha workout group. The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the groups, domain by domain. The first model of logistic regression was adjusted for male gender, nonsurgical treatment, Karnofsky performance status and smoking, which were included as predictors. The second model was adjusted for each SF-36 domain in order to identify increases in the proportions of patients in stage IIIB or IV. RESULTS: The lung cancer group and the control group presented the following mean scores, respectively, for the SF-36 domains: role limitations due to physical health problems, 29.39 ± 36.94 and 82.89 ± 28.80; role limitations due to emotional problems, 42.78 ± 44.78 and 86.55 ± 28.77; physical function, 56.49 ± 28.39 and 89.00 ± 13.80; vitality, 61.61 ± 23.82 and 79.12 ± 17.68; bodily pain, 62.72 ± 28.72 and 81.54 ± 19.07; general health, 62.51 ± 25.57 and 84.47 ± 13.47; emotional well-being, 68.28 ± 23.46 and 82.63 ± 17.44; and social functioning, 72.87 ± 29.20 and 91.67 ± 17.44. The logistic regression model showed that role limitations due to physical health problems, physical function and emotional well-being were predictors of stages IIIB and IV. CONCLUSIONS: The patients with lung cancer had a poorer quality of life, especially regarding physical aspects, than did the control subjects.
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Original Article10-24-2007Applicability of the 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey in patients with progressive systemic sclerosis
Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia. 2007;33(4):414-422
Abstract
Original ArticleApplicability of the 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey in patients with progressive systemic sclerosis
Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia. 2007;33(4):414-422
DOI 10.1590/S1806-37132007000400010
Views11See moreOBJECTIVE: To evaluate the applicability of the 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) as an instrument to measure health-related quality of life in a sample of patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) through the analysis of its reproducibility and its correlation with functional and clinical parameters. METHODS: A test-retest reproducibility study for the comparative analysis of the intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) of the SF-12 and the SF-36. A total of 46 patients diagnosed with PSS were studied, regardless of the presence of respiratory symptoms. RESULTS: The physical component summary 12 (PCS-12) score had an ICC of 0.47 (95%CI: 0.05-0.71; p < 0.02), whereas the mental component summary (MCS-12) score had an ICC of 0.72 (95%CI: 0.49-0.84; p < 0.001). The PCS-36 score had an ICC of 0.88 (95%CI: 0.78-0.93; p < 0.001), and the MCS-36 score also had an ICC of 0.88 (95%CI: 0.78-0.93; p < 0.001). CONSLUSION: The SF-12 is a reliable instrument for measuring health-related quality of life in patients with PSS, since it has been proven to be reproducible. However, this version of the SF-12 should only be used in clinical research settings.

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Original Article08-20-2007Influence of the oxygen delivery system on the quality of life of patients with chronic hypoxemia
Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia. 2007;33(2):161-167
Abstract
Original ArticleInfluence of the oxygen delivery system on the quality of life of patients with chronic hypoxemia
Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia. 2007;33(2):161-167
DOI 10.1590/S1806-37132007000200010
Views14See moreOBJECTIVE: To evaluate the health-related quality of life of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease receiving long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) at home through oxygen cylinders and compare these results with those obtained six months after the transition from oxygen cylinders to oxygen concentrators. METHODS: A total of 45 patients were evaluated. Of those, 24 had chronic hypoxemia and 21 presented no evidence of hypoxemia. The patients with chronic hypoxemia had been regularly receiving LTOT for at least the last six months and were evaluated at baseline, while using cylinders, and six months after the transition from cylinders to concentrators. The non-hypoxemic patients were evaluated at the same time points as were the hypoxemic patients. In order to evaluate quality of life, a version of the Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), translated and validated for use in Brazil, was administered. RESULTS: At baseline, quality of life, as evaluated using the total score and the symptom and impact domain scores of the SGRQ, was more impaired in the hypoxemic patients than in the non-hypoxemic patients. After six months of using the concentrators, the hypoxemic patients presented a significant improvement in the quality of life, and, at that time, no difference was found between the patients with and without hypoxemia. CONCLUSION: Our findings show that quality of life is impaired in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic hypoxemia, that their quality of life can be improved through regular use of LTOT, and that the oxygen delivery system has an influence on this improvement.
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Original Article06-12-2006Using the Saint George’s Respiratory Questionnaire to evaluate quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: validating a new version for use in Brazil
Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia. 2006;32(2):114-122
Abstract
Original ArticleUsing the Saint George’s Respiratory Questionnaire to evaluate quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: validating a new version for use in Brazil
Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia. 2006;32(2):114-122
DOI 10.1590/S1806-37132006000200006
Views12OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the applicability of a modified version of the Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire. The version evaluated elicits "agree" and "do not agree", rather than "yes" and "no", responses. The intention is to facilitate the comprehension of double-negative questions and to promote better recollection of symptoms by patients by shortening their symptom histories from 12 months to 3 months. METHODS: A total of 30 clinically stable patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were evaluated. The Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire and the modified version of the same were administered 15 days apart. RESULTS: All of the patients presented health-related alterations in their quality of life. Comparing mean scores between the two questionnaires, the greatest difference was seen in the Symptoms domain. No significant differences were found in any of the remaining domains or in the total scores. In a subsequent analysis, significant correlations between the two questionnaires were found in all domains: Symptoms (r = 0.71; p < 0.001); Activity (r = 0.75; p < 0.001); Impact (r = 0.73; p < 0.001) and Total (r = 0.86; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The modified version of the Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire is as effective as the original in gauging quality of life. However, various symptoms recollection time frames should be investigated in order to determine which would be the best time frame to employ in the analysis.
Keywords:Cross-cultural comparisonPulmonary disease, chronic obstructivequality of lifeQuestionnairesreproducibility of resultsSee more

