Background: There have been few data on the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with pneumoconiosis. HRQOL is an important aspect of daily living in patients with industrial diseases. Objectives: To investigate the HRQOL and factors that contribute to the impairment of HRQOL in patients with pneumoconiosis. Methods: 297 patients with pneumoconiosis were recruited from a community-based case registry. The HRQOL was measured with the St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). Pulmonary function, comorbidity and psychosocial variables were also assessed. Patients’ mood state was evaluated with the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Results: The mean SGRQ symptom, activity, impact and total scores were 38.0 ± 19.3, 44.5 ± 21.9, 34.2 ± 17.9 and 39.4 ± 17.4, respectively. These figures were lower than those reported in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who attended chest clinics. The GDS score (r = 0.38), forced expiratory volume in 1 s predicted (FEV1% predicted;r = –0.33) and comorbidity (r = 0.21) were the most important predictors of the HRQOL. Conclusions: Besides lung functions, chest clinicians should consider the impact of mood symptoms and comorbidity on the HRQOL in the management of patients with pneumoconiosis.

Keywords:
Pneumoconiosis, Pneumoconiosis, quality of life, Pneumoconiosis, Hong Kong community-dwellers, St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire
1.
Jones PW: Health status measurement in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Thorax 2001;56:880–887.
2.
Chang JA, Curtis JR, Patrick DL, Raghu G: Assessment of health-related quality of life in patients with interstitial lung disease. Chest 1999;116:1175–1182.
3.
Incalzi RA, Bellia V, Catalano F, Scichilone N, Imperiale C, Maggi S, Rengo F: Evaluation of health outcomes in elderly patients with asthma and COPD using disease-specific and generic instruments: the Salute Respiratoria nell’Anziano (SaRA) Study. Chest 2001;120:734–742.
4.
Wijnhoven HA, Kriegsman DM, Hesselink AE, de Haan M, Schellevis FG: The influence of co-morbidity on health-related quality of life in asthma and COPD patients. Respir Med 2003;97:468–475.
5.
Engstrom CP, Persson LO, Larsson S, Sullivan M: Health-related quality of life in COPD: why both disease-specific and generic measures should be used. Eur Respir J 2001;18:69–76.
6.
Jones PW, Quirk FH, Baveystock CM, Littlejohns P: A self-complete measure of health status for chronic airflow limitation: the St. Georges’s Respiratory Questionnaire. Am Rev Respir Dis 1992;145:1321–1327.
7.
Law YW, Leung MC, Leung CC, Yu TS, Tam CM: Characteristics of workers attending the pneumoconiosis clinic for silicosis assessment in Hong Kong: retrospective study. Hong Kong Med J 2001;7:343–349.
8.
Pneumoconiosis Compensation Fund Board: Annual Report 2000.
9.
Chest Services, Department of Health, Hong Kong: Notifications of silicosis attending the Pneumoconiosis Clinic in Hong Kong 1956–1998. Annual Report 1998.
10.
Chan SL, Chan-Yeung MM, Ooi GC, Lam CL, Cheung TF, Tsang KW: Validation of the Hong Kong Chinese version of the St. George Respiratory Questionnaire in patients with bronchiectasis. Chest 2002;122:2030–2037.
11.
Lubben JE: Assessing social network among elderly populations. Fam Community Health 1988;11:42–52.
12.
Chou KL, Chi I: Stressful life events and depressive symptoms: Social support and sense of control as mediators or moderators? Int J Aging Hum Dev 2001;52:155–171.
13.
Lim PP, Ng LL, Chiam PC, Ong PS, Ngui FT, Sahadevan S: Validation and comparison of three brief depression scales in an elderly Chinese population. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2000;15:824–830.
14.
Rule BG, Harvey HZ, Dobbs AR: Reliability of the Geriatric Depression Scale for younger adults. Clin Gerontol 1989;9:37–43.
15.
Tamkin AS, Carson MF, Nixon DH, Hyer LA: A comparison among some measures of depression in male alcoholics. J Stud Alcohol 1987;48:176–178.
16.
Breslin E, van der Schans C, Breukink S, Meek P, Mercer K, Volz W, Louie S: Perception of fatigue and quality of life in patients with COPD. Chest 1998;114:958–964.
17.
Prigatano GP, Wright EC, Levin D: Quality of life and its predictors in patients with mild hypoxemia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Arch Intern Med 1984;144:1613–1619.
18.
Hesselink AE, Penninx BW, Schlosser MA, Wijnhoven HA, van der Windt DA, Kriegsman DM, van Eijk JT: The role of coping resources and coping style in quality of life of patients with asthma or COPD. Qual Life Res 2004;13:509–518.
19.
Graydon JE, Ross E: Influence of symptoms, lung function, mood, and social support on level of functioning of patients with COPD. Res Nurs Health 1995;18:525–533.
20.
Ninot G, Brun A, Queiras G, Segi A, Moullec G, Desplan J: Psychosocial support for pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Rev Mal Respir 2003;20:549–557.
21.
Jones PW, Baveystock CM, Littlejohns P: Relationships between general health measured with the sickness impact profile and respiratory symptoms, physiological measures, and mood in patients with chronic airflow limitation. Am Rev Respir Dis 1989;140:1538–1543.
22.
Okubadejo AA, Jones PW, Wedzicha JA: Quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and severe hypoxaemia. Thorax 1996;51:44–47.
23.
Hajiro T, Nishimura K, Tsukino M, Ikeda A, Oga T: Stages of disease severity and factors that affect the health status of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Respir Med 2000;94:841–846.
24.
Peruzza S, Sergi G, Vianello A, Pisent C, Tiozzo F, Manzan A, Coin A, Inelmen EM, Enzi G: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in elderly subjects: impact on functional status and quality of life. Respir Med 2003;97:612–617.
25.
Ketelaars CA, Schlosser MA, Mostert R, Huyer Abu-Saad H, Halfens RJ, Wouters EF: Determinants of health-related quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Thorax 1996;51:39–43.
26.
Van Manen JG, Bindels PJ, Dekker FW, Bottema BJ, van der Zee JS, Ijzermans CJ, Schade E: The influence of COPD on health-related quality of life independent of the influence of comorbidity. J Clin Epidemiol 2003;56:1177–1184.
27.
Shoup R, Dalsky G, Warner S, Davies M, Connors M, Khan M, Khan F, ZuWallack R: Body composition and health-related quality of life in patients with obstructive airways disease. Eur Respir J 1997;10:1576–1580.
28.
Linn BS, Linn MW, Gurel L: Cumulative Illness Rating Scale. J Am Geriatr Soc 1968;16:622–626.
© 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel
2006
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.