Aims: To compare the effects of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on the quality of life of patients evaluated using the Saint George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) through correlating the variables, domains and total score.
Methods: A cross-sectional study from October 2008 to March 2009 with 75 adult outpatients at the University Hospital of Salamanca, Spain. Patients provided their clinical and socio-demographical data after being informed of the study's aims and ethical aspects. The Spanish version of the SGRQ and the statistical packa ge Statistics SPSS version 17.0 were used for statistical analysis.
Results: 65.3% were male and 34.7% female with mean age 60.4 years. 68% had a diagnosis of asthma and 30.7% COPD. Statistically significant differences (p<0.05) between diagnosis and the 'activity' domain were found. None were found between gender, smoking, ex-smoking or hypertension and the domains. The income levels were inversely related (p=0.038) with the total score. Statistically significant differences between age and the 'activity' (p<0.01) and 'impact' (p<0.05) domains and the SGRQ total score were found (p<0.01). The forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1%pred) only correlated with the 'activity' domain (p<0.01) and with the total score (p<0.01).
Conclusions: No variable correlated with all domains and the total score of the instrument. Some presented no statistically significant difference.