EFFECT OF INPATIENT TREATMENT ON PULMONAR Y FINDINGS AND SUBJECTIVE WELL-BEING IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC-BRONCHITIS

In a prospective study, inpatient therapy results (mean duration of ho spitalization 27.3 days) has been assessed in 70 patients with COPD (m ean age 62.4 years). Therapeutic success was observed in the objective pulmonary parameters (an increase of FEV1 from 50.5% to 57.6%, p<0.00 1) and an increase in PaO2 from 7.7 kPa to 8.5 kPa (p<0.001) as well a s an improvement in life quality established by questionnaire. The bes t pulmonary results were achieved by patients with least pulmonary obs truction and by those with subjective well-being on entry. Women and y ounger patients experienced the biggest improvement in life quality. F urthermore, there was a correlation between coping with chronic bronch itis and subjective well-being. Importantly, no correlation between ch anges in the objective pulmonary parameters and changes in well-being was observed; a finding which puts in question the previous rating of inpatient therapy success in COPD.