de la Torre CY, Pedroso MI, Falcón CP

Language: Spanish
References: 0
Page: 65-80
PDF size: 339.64 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Introduction. The pulmonary obstructive chronic disease (EPOC) has turned into a major reason of morbi-mortality into the developed countries. In Latin America several studies of importance are outlined. The main difficulties lie in the fact that the morbidity and mortality studies refer to cases diagnosed of COPD, in different stages, without taking into account the early onset of the disease and therefore its incidence and real prevalence are being underestimated. Methods. An observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted in patients older than 40 years of the Cristóbal Labra Polyclinic in La Lisa, in the period from October 2013 to April 2015. A survey was applied by the authors addressing sociodemographic and medical aspects of interest and the General Nottingham Quality of Life Questionnaire to patients with respiratory symptoms, with the aim of characterizing this population with similar symptoms to patients diagnosed with COPD. Results. 18.2% of the patients surveyed had chronic respiratory symptoms, with women predominating in 59.8% and the age group between 60 and 70 years old being the age group. Allergy prevailed among the risk factors in 48.8% and smoking in 45.1% and hypertension and psycho-affective disorders as comorbidities. Conclusions. The areas of sleep and social isolation were the most affected in the quality of life. The detection and proper management of these patients increases their perception of happiness.