Chronic Bronchitis Is Associated With Worse Symptoms and Quality of Life Than Chronic Airflow Obstruction.

ABSTRACT:

Background

COPD includes the chronic bronchitis (CB) and emphysema phenotypes. Although it is generally assumed that emphysema or chronic airflow obstruction (CAO) is associated with worse quality of life (QOL) than is CB, this assumption has not been tested.

Methods

The current study's analyses from the Lovelace Smokers' Cohort (LSC) were validated in the COPD Gene Cohort (COPDGene). CB without CAO (CB only) was defined as self-reported cough productive of phlegm for ≥ 3 mo/y for 2 consecutive years and postbronchodilator FEV1/FVC ≥ 70%. CAO without CB (CAO only) was defined as a postbronchodilator FEV1/FVC < 70% with no evidence of CB. QOL outcomes were obtained from the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) question

SUBMITTER: Meek PM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4524327 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature