THE EFFECT OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE LUNG DISEASE IN CONDITIONS OF COMORBIDITY

The purpose of the study. The study of the influence of socio-economic factors on the quality of life in men with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in conditions of comorbidity with arterial hypertension (AH).Materials and methods. The study included 136 male patients, mean age 61 years. Of these patients with COPD in combination with hypertension – 63 people, patients with COPD without hypertension 29 people. The comparison group consisted of 44 patients with hypertension without COPD. The study of the quality of life was carried out using the self-questioning method using the common MOS SF-36 questionnaire, as well as taking into account the socio-­economic status of patients.Results. In the course of the study, there was a decrease in QOL in all parameters in patients with COPD and to a greater extent in individuals with comorbidity of COPD and AH, which is most likely associated with progression and greater severity of clinical symptoms. The most significant area of relations at all stages is the socioeconomic status, the importance of which increases as the severity of the disease increases. Lower values on the scales characterizing both the physical and psychosocial status of the respondents were recorded with non-working persons. QOL was directly proportional (p <0.05) in the presence of a disability group, and it was more pronounced in patients with comorbidity of COPD and AH. Considering the effect of the average subsistence minimum, based on one family member, on the QOL level, statistically significant intragroup differences were obtained among patients with isolated COPD on the scales of general health and physical functioning (p <0.05).Conclusion. Socio-economic status has a significant impact on the respondents’ QOL, both in general and in the individual components of it.