Functional impairment in bronchiectasis: Spirometry parameters versus St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire scores: Any co-relation?

OBJECTIVES: Bronchiectasis is a common respiratory disease which has significant morbidity and mortality. Health-related quality of life scores are not routinely used for the assessment of bronchiectasis. The present study was undertaken with an aim to assess the clinical profile and functional impairment using spirometry in patients with bronchiectasis and to co-relate functional impairment with their St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) score. METHODOLOGY: This was a cross-sectional study carried out on 102 patients of bronchiectasis. All patients were assessed for clinical profile, spirometry, and SGRQ scores. Forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1/FVC were measured and compared with SGRQ scores. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 20.0 and MS-Excel. RESULTS: Obstruction was found in 62.7% and significant bronchodilator reversibility was observed in 30.4%. All spirometry parameters individually and combined showed a negative co-relation which was stastically significant (P < 0.001). Best co-relation was with FEV1 r = −0.809; symptom score, r = −0.821; activity score, r= −0.849; impact score and r = −0.873 total score. FVC% versus symptoms score r = −0.735; activity score r = −0.729, impacts score r = −0.778; total score r = −0.792. FEV1/FVC versus symptoms score r = −0.227, activity score r = −0.278, impacts score r = −0.263, total score r = −0.274. CONCLUSION: SGRQ scores have shown good correlation with functional impairment. It can be used as a modality to evaluate health status of patient in resource constraint settings.