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. 2022 Dec;14(12):4713-4724.
doi: 10.21037/jtd-22-906.

Health-related quality of life in a multiracial Asian interstitial lung disease cohort

Grace Phua  1 , Geak Poh Tan  2 , Hwee Pin Phua  3 , Wei-Yen Lim  3 , Han-Yee Neo  1   4 , Gin Tsen Chai  1   2
Affiliations

Health-related quality of life in a multiracial Asian interstitial lung disease cohort

Grace Phua et al. J Thorac Dis. 2022 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Understanding health-related quality of life (HRQL) in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) provides insight into disease burden and treatment effects on patients' well-being. We examined HRQL in a multiracial Asian ILD cohort using the King's brief ILD (K-BILD) and EuroQol 5-dimension-3-level (EQ5D-3L) questionnaires and their associations with several clinical variables.

Methods: This was a single-centre cross-sectional study of ILD patients in a university-affiliated tertiary public hospital in Singapore. All patients completed two self-administered HRQL questionnaires upon study entry, and their clinical information was retrieved from electronic medical records.

Results: Ninety-nine patients (56% male, 75% Chinese) were included. The median (interquartile range) age was 63 (54-72) years. The most common ILD diagnosis was connective tissue disease-related ILD (n=51, 52%), followed by idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (n=27, 27%). The mean (standard deviation) scores for the EQ5D-3L utility value, EQ5D Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and K-BILD total were 0.806 (0.284), 75.1 (12.8) and 63.9 (14.3), respectively. A moderate correlation was found between the EQ5D-3L and K-BILD total and domain scores. The HRQL scores also correlate moderately with the modified Medical Research Council dyspnoea scale (mMRC) scores. There was a weak-to-moderate correlation between HRQL and forced vital capacity (FVC), carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO) and Charlson comorbidity index. Multiple linear regression showed a significant association of K-BILD total [beta coefficient 0.244, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.075-0.414; P=0.005], K-BILD 'breathlessness and activities' (beta coefficient 0.448, 95% CI: 0.192-0.703; P=0.001), and the 'psychological' domain (beta coefficient 0.256, 95% CI: 0.024-0.488; P=0.031) with DLCO %pred after adjustment for age, sex, BMI, race, smoking history, comorbidities, FVC %pred and ILD diagnosis. Non-Chinese race was a predictor of better K-BILD 'psychological' domain (beta coefficient 8.680, 95% CI: 0.656-16.704; P=0.034) after adjustment.

Conclusions: HRQL is significantly impaired in ILD patients, and low DLCO is a strong predictor of this impairment.

Keywords: Connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease; King’s brief ILD (K-BILD); idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; interstitial lung disease; quality of life.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://jtd.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/jtd-22-906/coif). GTC reports honoraria for lectures and advisory board fees from Boehringer Ingelheim (Singapore) Pte Ltd. paid to his institution. GTC is the Honorary Secretary in Chapter of Respiratory Medicine, Academy of Medicine, Singapore. Geak Poh Tan received Tan Tock Seng Hospital 2019 Pitch-for-fund grant for unrelated project. GPT holds the position of vice chairman of the Chapter of Respiratory Medicine, Academy of Medicine, Singapore. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow diagram. HRQL, health-related quality of life.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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