Impacto de la disnea durante el desempeño de las actividades de la vida diaria en pacientes con EPOC de consulta externa de neumología del Hospital Homero Castanier Crespo, Azogues. Periodo enero 2016 – diciembre 2019

Abstract

Background: COPD is a respiratory pathology that manifests itself with respiratory symptoms and limitation of lung volumes and capacities. Its main manifestations include respiratory distress, cough and expectoration, which influence the quality of life and the performance of activities of daily living.

Objective: To determine the impact of dyspnea during the performance of activities of daily living in patients with COPD from the pulmonology outpatient clinic of Hospital Homero Castanier Crespo during the period January 2016 - December 2019.

Methodology: A descriptive, cross-sectional, observational, retrospective study was carried out in patients diagnosed with COPD. The impact of dyspnea was assessed using the Saint George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), dyspnea was quantified using the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) scale, and the rest of the data using forms developed for this research. Data analysis was performed with Microsoft Excel and SPSS.

Results: Most of the population were men, older than 80 years; 45% have a negative impact (poor quality of life) with respect to dyspnea. 41.2% reported smoking and 76.5% indicated exposure to biomass. 94.1% of the total presented dyspnea. Finally, it was observed that as the degree of dyspnea increases, the quality of life decreases.