Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is associated with many co morbidities and depression is one of them. Dyspnoea is an important factor determining the presence and degree of depression in COPD. Aims & Objectives: To find the relation between increasing grading of dyspnoea and increasing grading of depression in COPD patients.
Materials and Methods: Fifty COPD patients diagnosed according to GOLD (Global initiative for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) guidelines were recruited into study from the outpatient and inpatient department. Subjective assessment of dyspnoea was done by MMRC (Modified medical research council) dyspnoea scale. Assessment of depression was done by HAM-D scale (Hamilton rating scale for depression).
Results: A positive correlation was found between increasing grade of dyspnoea and increasing grade of depression in study population by finding the correlation coefficient (p<0.01). Conclusion: Study concluded that increasing grade of dyspnoea leads to increasing grade of depression in COPD patients. A detailed study is needed to understand the correlation between dyspnoea and depression in COPD patients for better understanding of the disease.