Page 82 - Livre électronique du congrès des RFTP 2022

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ANXIETY AND AIRFLOW OBSTRUCTION IN COPD PATIENTS

S. KHALDI, B. BARKOUS, K. DERBEL, A. SAYHI, F. GUEZGUEZ, S. ROUATBI

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSIOLOGY AND FUNCTIONAL EXPLORATION OF FARHAT HACHED HOSPITAL
OF SOUSSE/ RESEARCH LABORATORY, LR12SP09- TUNISIA

INTRODUCTION: Anxiety is common in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD). The relationship between COPD and psychologic comorbidities is
likely bi-directional, as they can be both a cause and a consequence of COPD.
OBJECTIVE: Determine the impact of the severity of airflow obstruction on the
magnitude of anxiety related symptoms.

METHODS: It is a cross sectional study that included 30 adult subjects diagnosed with
COPD over a period of 3 months in the Department of Physiology and Functional
Exploration of Farhat Hached Hospital of Sousse. They answered a standard medical
questionnaire to assess personal medical history and a validated Arabic version of the
global anxiety disorder (GAD-7) to evaluate anxiety. All subjects underwent the
spirometry with measurement of Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1%)
and Forced vital capacity (FVC%). An obstructive ventilatory defect is considered
when FEV1/FVC < lower limit of normal (LLN). The severity of the obstructive defect
is classified from minimal to severe airflow obstruction according to FEV1%. COPD is
confirmed when the ratio FEV1/FVC post bronchodilator test <0.7.
RESULTS: The mean age (year old), the mean GAD-7 score and the mean FEV1% were
respectively 64.55, 5.4, 41.53. For the Gold classification, 6.7%, 20%, 28.9% and 11.1% of
the patients were GOLD 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Anxiety levels were 36.7% with no
anxiety, 53.3% with minimal anxiety, 6.7% with moderate anxiety and 3.3% with severe
anxiety. A negative correlation was found between GAD-7 score and FEV1% (p=0,137
r = -0.278).
CONCLUSION: This preliminary study showed a poor significant association between
the severity of airflow obstruction in COPD patients and their GAD-7 score evaluating
psychological symptoms. This finding highlights the importance of identifying
patients with clinical anxiety, to ensure appropriate treatment, and to slow down the
lung function decline.

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