Title:Assessment of Physical Health Status, Depression and Activities of Daily Living Among Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients in Tertiary Care Hospitals in Mangalore, India
VOLUME: 14 ISSUE: 2
Author(s):Nitin Joseph*, Sohan Kukkillaya, Navin Mallya, Abhin Rai and Mohammed Muiz
Affiliation:Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Light House Hill Road, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Mangalore, Kasturba Medical College, Light House Hill Road, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Mangalore, Kasturba Medical College, Light House Hill Road, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Mangalore, Kasturba Medical College, Light House Hill Road, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Mangalore, Kasturba Medical College, Light House Hill Road, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Mangalore
Keywords:Activities of daily living, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, depression, physical health status, risk factors,
patients.
Abstract:Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) manifests with dyspnoea
which causes restriction in movement, loss of independence and social isolation.
Objectives: To assess physical health status, depression, activities of daily living (ADL) and its
determinants among COPD patients.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was done among out and in-patients at a government and private
tertiary care hospital. All confirmed cases of COPD were interviewed using a semi-structured
interview schedule.
Results: The mean age of the 76 patients was 60.9 ± 13.3 years. The majority were males 61(80.3%)
and were from urban area 48(63.2%). Duration of COPD was between 1 to 5 years among 43(56.6%)
patients. Among the participants, 49(64.5%) were smokers and among them 17(34.7%) were current
smokers. Physical health status was good among 23(30.3%), average among 49(64.4%) and poor
among 4(5.3%) patients. Level of depression was nil, mild, moderate, moderately severe and severe
among 30(39.5%), 18(23.7%), 20(26.3%), 6(7.9%) and 2(2.6%) participants respectively. ADL was
poor, average and good among 4(5.3%), 17(22.3%) and 55(72.4%) participants respectively.
Pack-years of smoking more than 5 years among current smokers (n=17) was significantly associated
with poor to average physical health status (P=0.0063). Duration of COPD more than 5 years was
associated each with poor to average ADL (P=0.05) and with the presence of depression (P=0.022)
among participants. The correlation between physical health status scores and Barthel index scores
was found to be significant (r = – 0.359, P=0.001).
Conclusion: The study identified the number of patients having an impairment with physical health,
ADL and the presence of depression. Therefore these parameters need to be screened periodically
during the course of management. Further interventions such as smoking cessation measures,
monitoring COPD symptom burden and tailoring treatment accordingly would help to improve the
quality of life of the affected.
