Category Archives: COPD

Identifying Patients with COPD in Need for Psychosocial Care Through Screening with the HSCL-25 and the CCQ Mental State.

COPD. 2017 Dec 11;:1-5

Authors: Maters GA, Pool G, Sanderman R, Wempe JB, Fleer J

Abstract
High levels of psychological distress are documented in patients with COPD. This study investigates the extent to which patients with a high score on the Hopkins Symptoms Checklist-25 (HSCL-25) or with a high score on the Mental State scale of the Clinical COPD Questionnaire (CCQ) endorse a need for psychosocial care, and investigates several characteristics of patients with a need. Outpatients with COPD of the Department of Pulmonary Diseases of a University Medical Center were assessed with the HSCL-25, CCQ and a question on need for psychosocial care. For patients indicating a need, the percentage of patients with HSCL-25 ≥39 was compared with the percentage of patients with CCQ Mental State >2 and tested with a Chi-square. In total 323 patients participated; 57% of them were distressed according to the HSCL-25 (≥39) and 20% according to the CCQ Mental State (>2); 28% reported a need for psychosocial care. For patients reporting a need for psychosocial care a higher percentage was identified by the HSCL-25 than by the CCQ Mental State (χ2 = 9.41, p <. 002) and they were younger than patients without a need (t = 4.48, p <. 001). No differences existed for sex, FEV1, FEV1% predicted or medical comorbidities. The HSCL-25 identified more patients in need than the CCQ Mental State scale. However, not all patients with a need were identified. No relationship was found between need for psychosocial care and illness variables or comorbidities. Distress screening is questioned as the most effective way to identity patients with COPD in need for psychosocial care.

PMID: 29227733 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

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Predictors of all-cause mortality in patients with stable COPD: medical co-morbid conditions or high depressive symptoms.

COPD. 2014 Aug;11(4):468-74

Authors: Maters GA, de Voogd JN, Sanderman R, Wempe JB

Abstract
Co-morbid conditions are frequently found in patients with COPD. We evaluate the association of co-morbidities with mortality, in stable COPD. 224 patients, mean age 61.2 (± 10.00), 48.2% female, mean FEV1 1.1 (± 0.5) liters, median follow-up time 4.2 years, participated. Medical co-morbidities were scored according to the Charlson Co-morbidity Index (CCI). Depressive symptoms were assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90). The Cox proportional hazard model was used for survival analyses. In our sample, 70% of all patients have a co-morbid medical condition or high depressive symptoms. During follow-up 51% of all patients died, and those with heart failure have the highest mortality rate (75%). Age, fat-free mass and exercise capacity were predictive factors, contrary to CCI-scores and high depressive symptoms. An unadjusted association between heart failure and survival was found. Although the presence of co-morbidities, using the CCI-score, is not related to survival, heart failure seems to have a detrimental effect on survival. Higher age and lower exercise capacity or fat-free mass predict mortality.

PMID: 24831411 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

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