Bronchitic and non-bronchitic phenotypes of COPD differ in the prevalence of depressive symptoms

Abstract

Background: Psychological sequelae of COPD may influence functional status independent of disease severity. Presence of depression among several phenotypes of COPD is not clearly understood.

Aim: We wanted to find out the real occurence of depression in both basic clinical phenotypes of COPD.

Methods and material: Multicomponent assessment of 38 consecutive patiens (6 female, 66,7 ± 7,6 years) with stable COPD (GOLD categories A 1, B 21, C O, D 16) in the out-patient clinic of university hospital (within non-interventional cross-sectional Complexity of COPD Study).

Results: 27 patients had bronchitic and 11 subjects suffered from non-bronchitic phenotype of COPD (post- ipratropium and salbutamol FEV1 57,7%). Bronchitic variant was associated with lower level of depressive symptoms (Beck scale 5,1 ± 3, Zung scale 50,2 ± 10,9) than that found in non-bronchitic subpype of COPD (Beck scale 8,3 ± 3,4, Zung scale 57.5 ± 7,4). Although this difference reached statistical significance only in Beck questionnaire p=0,013 (Mann Whitney test). In all other parameters (BMI, FFMI, education level, inhalation risk, 6MWD, exercise desaturation, mMRC dyspnea, Celli's BODE, Puhan's BODE, ADO, CAT, all domains of SGRQ, arterial blood Gates, ECG heart rate) were no differences between these two basic phenotypes.

Conclusion: Non-bronchitic phenotype of COPD was associated with more depression complaints than bronchitic scenario. This difference was not apparent in terms of quality of life, prognostic indices and number of other variables describing course of COPD.