CORRELATION OF COPD ASSESSMENT TEST WITH PULMONARY FUNCTION, EXERCISE CAPACITY, AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE IN CENTRAL INDIA: A CASE–CONTROL STUDY
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Keywords
COPD, CAT score, Spirometry, BODE index, SGRQ, Quality of life, Exercise capacity
Abstract
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a major contributor to global morbidity and mortality. Although spirometry remains the cornerstone for diagnosis, it does not adequately capture symptom burden, exercise intolerance, and quality of life. The COPD Assessment Test (CAT) is a simple patient-reported tool, but its correlation with multidimensional disease indices in Indian populations remains insufficiently explored.
Objectives: To evaluate the relationship between CAT score and pulmonary function tests (PFT), exercise capacity, dyspnea severity, BODE index, and health-related quality of life (SGRQ) in patients with COPD.
Methods: A case–control study including 180 participants (90 COPD patients and 90 healthy controls) was conducted. COPD was diagnosed as per GOLD guidelines. CAT, spirometry (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC), six-minute walk distance (6MWD), modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale, Body Mass Index (BMI), BODE index, and St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) were assessed. Pearson’s correlation analysis was performed.
Results: CAT showed significant negative correlations with FVC (r = –0.516, p < 0.001), FEV1 (r = –0.772, p < 0.001), FEV1/FVC (r = –0.376, p < 0.001), and 6MWD (r = –0.279, p = 0.005). Strong positive correlations were observed with mMRC dyspnea (r = 0.862, p < 0.001), BODE index (r = 0.430, p < 0.001), and SGRQ score (r = 0.306, p = 0.002). Higher CAT scores were associated with advanced GOLD stages, reduced exercise capacity, greater dyspnea, and poorer quality of life.
Conclusion: CAT is a reliable and practical surrogate marker of COPD severity, functional limitation, and quality-of-life impairment. Its strong association with physiological and multidimensional indices supports its routine clinical use, particularly in resource-limited settings.
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Mo Shaqib
Research Scholar, Department of Physiology, Index Medical College Hospital & Research Centre, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, (Malwanchal University), India.
Dr. Ashutosh Jain
AssociateProfessor, Department of Physiology, Index Medical College Hospital & Research Centre, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, (Malwanchal University) India
Mohd Areeb
Research Scholar, Department of Microbiology, Index Medical College Hospital & Research Centre, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, (Malwanchal University), India
