Nani Draman , Hazleena Mohamed Hasnan , Wan Mohd Izani Wan Mohamed , Mat Zuki Mat Jaeb
Objective: To determine the association between the Malay version of COPD Assessment Test (CAT) with severity of airflow limitation based on The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) grade, cardiovascular co-morbidities and frequency of acute Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) exacerbation among stable COPD outpatients in the two main hospitals of Kota Bharu, Kelantan over a period of one year.
Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study which was conducted among 95 COPD Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) patients who attended the respiratory clinics at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM) and Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II (HRPZ II). The Malay version of the COPD assessment test (CAT) and associated COPD data were used to obtain COPD severity. Spirometry was then performed on the subjects. Previous angiogram, echocardiogram (ECHO) and electrocardiogram (ECG) results were reviewed separately for patients who had a background history of cardiovascular disease.
Results: Of the 95 subjects, 89.5% were male and 94.7% were Malay with a mean age of 66.43±8.61years. Most (48, 50.5%) had moderate CAT scores with 40 (42.1%) patients having severe airflow limitation ie GOLD grade III. There was a significant difference between the mean CAT score, between each GOLD grade. The association between CAT score with cardiovascular co-morbidities and frequency of acute exacerbation however were not statistically significant.
Conclusion: There was a significant difference in the CAT score between each GOLD grade, especially in GOLD grade 1 and 4. The CAT score was not found to have a statistically significant association with cardiovascular co-morbidities and frequency of acute exacerbation within the one-year period
