Published in:
Open Access 01-12-2014 | Research article
COPD Assessment Test (CAT) score as a predictor of major depression among subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and mild hypoxemia: a case–control study
Published in: BMC Pulmonary Medicine | Issue 1/2014
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Background
Depression is a common comorbidity among patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and has a significant impact on the course of the disease. The aim of this study is to determine association between COPD Assessment Test (CAT) and major depression among clinically stable out-patient COPD subjects with mild hypoxemia.
Methods
Case–control study. Cases were 30 patients with major depression and controls were 30 patients without depression. Major depression was diagnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria by a psychiatric evaluation. All possible predictive variables were included in a multivariate logistic regression model to assess the association between major depression and each independent variable, while controlling for the sleep parameters.
Results
CAT score >20 was associated with major depression (OR 7.88; 95% CI 1.96 - 31.7; p = 0.004).
Conclusion
CAT score >20 was associated with major depression, suggesting CAT as a predictor variable of major depression among COPD patients with mild hypoxemia, and indicating that an additional specific evaluation for the presence of major depression should be done.