Coping styles in patients with COPD before and after pulmonary rehabilitation.

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) improves physical and psychological symptoms in COPD patients. Patients' coping with daily symptoms and limitations may have more influence on important patient-centred outcomes than the impaired lung function. To date, it remains unknown whether and to what extent coping styles change following PR, and whether coping styles are associated with the outcomes of a comprehensive PR. Coping styles were assessed in 303 COPD patients before and after a PR programme using the Utrecht Coping List (UCL). Additionally, lung function, St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, anxiety (HADS-A) and depression (HADS-D) subscales and six-minute walking distance (6MWD) were recorded. The level of active confronting coping style increased (p < 0.05), whereas the levels of avoidance (p < 0.05), passive reaction pattern and reassuring thoughts coping styles decreased following PR (both p < 0.001). More than 50% of the patients changed their level of active confronting, passive reaction pattern or expressing emotions coping style. Coping styles and/or changes in coping styles after PR were related to changes in exercise tolerance, anxiety and depression, but were not related to changes in health status. Following PR, SGRQ total score, HADS-A and HADS-D scores decreased (all p < 0.001), while 6MWD increased (p < 0.05). Comprehensive PR results in change in coping styles of COPD patients. Coping styles are related to improvements in exercise tolerance, anxiety and depression, but they are not related with changes in health status after PR. Further studies are needed to evaluate the outcome of interventions actively targeting coping styles.

Stoilkova A ，Janssen DJ ，Franssen FM ，Spruit MA ，Wouters EF ... -  《-》

The relationship between coping styles and clinical outcomes in patients with COPD entering pulmonary rehabilitation.

Stoilkova A ，Wouters EF ，Spruit MA ，Franssen FM ，Janssen DJ ... -  《-》

Differences in change in coping styles between good responders, moderate responders and non-responders to pulmonary rehabilitation.

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) improves exercise tolerance and health status in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Data on the effects of PR on coping styles are limited. Aim of the present study was to compare changes in coping styles between patients who had a good, moderate and no improvement in either exercise tolerance or health status after PR. Coping styles of 439 COPD patients undergoing PR were assessed by the Utrecht Coping List (UCL) at baseline and after PR. Patients' pulmonary function, six-minute walking distance (6MWD), St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A and HADS-D) were recorded. Good, moderate and non-responders were defined on the basis of minimally clinically important difference (MCID) for SGRQ total score and/or 6MWD. Overall, 54.0% of the patients fulfilled the criteria for good responders, while 22.1% were moderate responders. Change in passive reaction pattern coping style differed significantly between good responders and non-responders following PR (p < 0.001). Moreover, within the groups, changes in coping styles after PR occurred among the good responders, whereas the majority of moderate responders' and non-responders' coping styles were not significantly influenced by PR. Good responders decreased their passive reaction pattern coping style in contrast to non-responders after PR. In general, PR did not change the coping among moderate and non-responders. Further research is warranted to determine whether including interventions targeting coping styles may modify coping behaviour of COPD patients, as well as improvement in exercise tolerance or health status after PR.

Stoilkova-Hartmann A ，Janssen DJ ，Franssen FM ，Wouters EF ... -  《-》

Relapse of health related quality of life and psychological health in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 6 months after rehabilitation.

This study aimed to evaluate the short- and long-term effects of 4-week inpatient rehabilitation on health-related quality of life (HRQL), anxiety and depression in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and investigate the influence of clinical and socio-demographical factors on unaltered or improved HRQL after discharge. A total of 111 consecutive cases with mild-to-very severe COPD were recruited from three rehabilitation centres and measured at baseline (t1), 4 weeks (t2) and 6-month follow-up (t3). Disease severity was assessed by spirometric tests, HRQL by The St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and anxiety and depression by The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Socio-demography and co-morbidity was also reported. Changes in SGRQ and HADS scores from baseline to follow-up were analysed by paired-sample t-test, and logistic regression was used to investigate the influence of different factors on HRQL after discharge. Health-related quality of life and depression improved between t1 and t2: a change of -3.6 for the SGRQ impact score (p = 0.009), -2.8 for the SGRQ total score (p = 0.012), a clinical relevant change of -4.0 for the SGRQ symptom score (p = 0.012) and a reduction of -0.7 for the HADS depression score (p = 0.011). Between t2 and t3, all SGRQ and HADS scores deteriorated with enhancement of SGRQ impact score (+3.5, p = 0.016), SGRQ total score (+2.5, p = 0.029), HADS anxiety score (+1.1, p = 0.000), HADS depression score (+0.6, p = 0.022) and HADS total score (+1.7, p = 0.000). No significant differences between t1 and t3 were found, except for HADS anxiety score (+0.9, p = 0.003). Patients living alone were 2.9 times more likely to maintain or improve HRQL 6 months after rehabilitation than patients living with someone (95% CI 1.1-7.8, p = 0.039). Short-term benefits on HRQL and depression after rehabilitation relapsed at 6-month follow-up, but without any further deterioration from baseline. Living alone may be beneficial to maintain or improve HRQL after discharge.

Bratås O ，Espnes GA ，Rannestad T ，Walstad R ... -  《-》

Functional and psychological variables both affect daily physical activity in COPD: a structural equations model.

Daily physical activity (DPA) level is reduced in patients with COPD. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of DPA with functional and psychological variables in these patients. 155 COPD patients (102 males, median (IQR) age 62 years (54-69 years), predicted FEV1 60% (40-75%) were included. We assessed DPA (DigiWalker SW-200), functional capacity and psychological factors. DPA level was significantly associated with all functional capacity variables and two psychological variables (Perceived Physical Ability Subscale, depression subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). The six-minute walking distance and St. George Respiratory Questionnaire activity score explained 37% of the variance of DPA in a regression analysis. A structural equations model revealed that psychological variables indirectly explained DPA through functional capacity variables. DPA was stronger associated with functional capacity variables and weaker with psychological variables in patients with lower functional status than in patients with higher functional status. Higher levels of DPA are associated with better functional capacity, but interestingly, DPA is also affected by psychological factors, though only indirectly, via functional capacity. The effect of specific treatment addressing psychological factors on DPA level and exercise tolerance needs further investigation. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00614796.

Altenburg WA ，Bossenbroek L ，de Greef MH ，Kerstjens HA ，ten Hacken NH ，Wempe JB ... -  《-》