Comparative assessment of the quality of life in patients with bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease before and after COVID-19

Objective. To compare the quality of life of patients with bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) before and after COVID-19. Materials and methods. 73 patients diagnosed with bronchial asthma and 78 patients with COPD who were treated at Sechenov University Clinical Hospital №4, participated in the retrospective dynamic comparative study based on the principle «from cause to effect». Assessment of the quality of the patients` life was carried out before and after COVID-19 using a visual analogue scale from 0 to 100 points and the universal EuroQol-5D questionnaire. Mobility, self-care abilities, habitual activity, severity of pain/discomfort, the presence of anxiety/depression in the post-COVID period were assessed. Results. In patients with COPD before COVID-19, the average total score on the visual–analogue scale was 89,5 [83,8; 95], and after COVID-19 it was 70 [64,5; 80] points. In the post-covid period, 91 % of people with COPD noted some mobility limitations, 33.3 % experienced difficulties with self-care, 65.4 % of patients could not engage in habitual activities, 60.3 % suffered pronounced pain or discomfort, and 29.5 % of patients had severe anxiety or depression. In patients with asthma before COVID-19, the average total score was 90 [88,4; 91] points, and after COVID-19 it was 75 [70,2; 80,2]. In the post-ovarian period, mobility limitations were noted by 71.2 % of patients, and 64.4 % had difficulties with taking care of themselves, 54.8 % could not engage in habitual activities. At the same time, 78.1 % of patients experienced pain or discomfort, and 58.9 % had moderate anxiety or depression. Conclusions. COVID-19 has led to a significant decrease in the quality of life in patients with asthma and COPD. This may be associated with a worsening of the course of the disease and increase in the number of exacerbations of these pulmonary pathologies, resulting in significant limitation of mobility, growing pain or discomfort, as well as the occurrence of severe anxiety or depression.