Spirituality and religiosity are associated with physical and psychological status in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND

Management strategies that incorporate spirituality and religiosity (S/R) have been associated with better health status in clinical populations. However, few data are available for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to improve the traditional disease-model treatment.

AIMS: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the association between S/R and physical and psychological status in patients with stable COPD.

DESIGN

This is a cross-sectional study.

METHODS

Religiosity, spiritual well-being and S/R Coping were measured. Physical status was evaluated with the activity of daily living, dyspnoea and the impact of the disease. Psychological status was assessed with anxiety and depression symptoms and quality of life. Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated, multivariate linear regression was applied in the analyses. This study is reported following the STROBE recommendations.

RESULTS

Seventy-two patients with stable COPD (male 58%, aged 68 ± 9 years, forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1 ) of 49.2 ± 19.6% predicted) were included. There was no association between S/R and activity of daily living. However, higher spiritual well-being and lower Negative S/R Coping was associated with reduced dyspnoea and burden of the disease. Increased S/R and lower Negative S/R Coping was also associated with less anxiety, depression and better quality of life. Multivariate linear regression showed that S/R variables explained the physical and psychological health status in people with stable COPD.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher spirituality and less negative S/R Coping are associated with reduced dyspnoea, the burden of the disease, anxiety and depression symptoms, and better quality of life in patients with stable COPD.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Understanding how religiosity and spirituality are associated with physical and psychological features in patients with COPD may contribute to the long-term management of this patient population.