Quality of life and its association with direct medical costs for COPD in urban China

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Few studies have focused on the quality of life (QoL) associated medical costs for COPD in China. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 678 COPD patients was conducted in four major cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu), China, in 2011. Data on socio-demographic information, health conditions and medical costs were collected through a face-to-face interview combined with medical record searching. The EuroQol (EQ-5D) health questionnaire was applied to assess the QoL of COPD patients. RESULTS: Among 678 patients with COPD, nearly 40% had difficulties in mobility, usual activities and pain/discomfort, one third had various degrees of anxiety/depression, and one fifth had difficulties in self-care. The COPD patients had a median utility score of 0.768 and a median visual analog scale score of 70. The degree of difficulties in any dimensions significantly increased, and utility and health scores decreased with severity of the disease. Age, gender and disease severity were significantly associated with the quality of life after taking other covariates into consideration. Poorer QoL was a significant indicator of higher direct medical costs for COPD patients. CONCLUSION: Impaired quality of life was significantly linked to increased medical costs for COPD patients and could be an important measure for policy- and decision-making in COPD care.