Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
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Introduction: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease is commonly prevalent disease with high level of disability. The goals of treatment are only palliative and to improve the quality of life of these patients. Health related quality of life instruments are useful in monitoring the patient’s progress and in identifying the appropriate treatment and provide information complimentary to pulmonary function tests. They are now regularly used in assessing any new intervention in COPD patient’s in western studies. There are limited data available regarding the changes in health status after treatment in COPD patient’s in our country. Hence this study was undertaken. Objectives: (1) To assess and compare the quality of life in COPD patients receiving ipratropium bromide or sustained release Theophylline or both. (2) To translate and validate the disease specific St. Georg’s Respiratory Questionnaire into the local language. Study Population: Thirty – five patients with stable COPD attending the outpatient clinic Design: Cross over trial. Methodology: Patients with COPD satisfying the including criteria were recruited into the study. After baseline Spirometry, the St. Georg’s Respiratory Questionnaire, Baseline dyspnea index, Modified Borg’s dyspnea scale were administered. These were repeated during follow up every 15 days and patients received ipratropium and theophylline for one month each followed by a combination of ipratropium and theophylline.
