Vergnenègre A, Martin J, d'Arco X, Antonini M T, Melloni B, Courat C, Dupont-Cuisinier M, Bonnaud F
Unité d'Information Médicale, Hôpital Universitaire du Cluzeau, Limoges.
Rev Mal Respir. 1995;12(6):615-21.
Respiratory diseases are known to have consequences on health status. The objective of this study was to assess the quality of life of subjects with obstructive respiratory disorders coming for preventive medicine examinations. We conducted a study on a sample of adults living in agricultural areas (n = 1,235). We used two questionnaires: a respiratory questionnaire and the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), which is a questionnaire designed to capture self-reported morbidity. It has been recently validated in french. Each subject performed a pulmonary function test on a portable spirometer to separate lung function obstructive abnormalities. Statistical analysis was realized by non parametric test. The number of positive responses (which shows bad health status) and the scores of the six dimensions are higher in females than males. According to sex and smoking habits, cough and chronic bronchitis are responsible for bad scores of health profile (for the total number of positive responses and the scores of each dimension). In case of airway obstruction, there is no major consequences on health profile. Subjective health measurements are interesting tools in subjects with non-chronic diseases. They can be associated with medical questionnaires because they give complementary inquiries.
