J Korean Med Sci.  2020 Jan;35(2):e10. 10.3346/jkms.2020.35.e10.

Clinical Role of the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Assessment Test in Prediction of the Response to Treatment for Exacerbations

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea.
  • 2Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
  • 3Division of Pulmonology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Guri, Korea.
  • 4Division of Allergy and Respiratory Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, Cheonan, Korea.
  • 5Regional Center for Respiratory Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Yeungnam University Medical Center, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
  • 6Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
  • 7Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
  • 8Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Korea.
  • 9Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. khyou@kuh.ac.kr

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) assessment test (CAT) is a validated, eight-item questionnaire used to quantify the health status of patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the CAT questionnaire as a tool to assess the response to treatment in acute exacerbations of COPD in an outpatient setting.
METHODS
A multicenter, phase 3 randomized controlled trial was conducted previously to examine the efficacy and safety of oral zabofloxacin for the treatment of COPD exacerbations. In the present post hoc analysis of the original study, patients with COPD exacerbation were categorized as responders or non-responders according to the respiratory symptoms persisting on day 10 (visit 3) of treatment. The CAT questionnaire was completed daily by patients at home from the initial visit to the second visit on day 5. Subsequently, the questionnaire was completed in the presence of a physician on days 10 (visit 3) and 36 (visit 4). Multivariate regression analysis was performed to determine the association between CAT scores and the therapeutic response.
RESULTS
The CAT scores decreased more rapidly in responders compared to non-responders during the first 5 days (23.3-20.4 vs. 23.5-22). Among responders, patients with higher severity of illness also revealed higher CAT scores on the first day of an exacerbation (mild, 19.8; moderate, 21.4; severe, 23.8; very severe, 28.6). Multivariate analysis revealed that a change in the CAT score during the first 3 days influenced the therapeutic response. A significant decrease in scores in the domains of sputum production, chest tightness, and activities of daily living was seen among responders.
CONCLUSION
Early improvement in CAT scores may be associated with a more favorable response to the treatment of COPD exacerbations. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01658020 TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Research Information Service Identifier: KCT0000532

Keyword

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; Exacerbation; Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Assessment Test; Questionnaire; Treatment Response

MeSH Terms

Activities of Daily Living
Animals
Cats
Humans
Information Services
Multivariate Analysis
Outpatients
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive*
Sputum
Thorax
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