The Effect of Respiratory Functions, Quality of Life, Anxiety and Depression on The Number of Exacerbations in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients

Background: Diagnosis and treatment of comorbidities in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) facilitates the control of the disease, and evaluation and improvement of quality of life is an important part of the follow-up of the disease. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of pulmonary function, quality of life, anxiety and depression on exacerbations in COPD. Material and Methods: Between May 2007 and May 2008, 70 patients with COPD admitted to the pulmonary medicine outpatient clinic were included in the study and followed up for one year in terms of exacerbations. Quality of life questionnaires and anxiety and depression assessment scale were applied at the first interview. Results: The mean age of the patients was 64.24±10.62 years. The male patients was 88.6% and there was a significant correlation between gender and number of exacerbations (p=0.045). No significant correlation was found between respiratory functions and depression and the number of exacerbations (p=0.368, p=0.134, respectively). There was a moderate positive correlation between exacerbations and anxiety (p