Predictors of Quality-of-Life Improvement at Different Minimum Clinically Important Difference Values in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease after Climatic Rehabilitation Treatment

Background: The minimum clinically important difference (MCID) for the St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) is debated in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) quality-of-life (QoL) assessments. This study aimed to determine whether there a predictors of significant improvement between traditional (value 4) and newly proposed MCID SGRQ 7) after climatic rehabilitation treatment. Climatic treatment consists two main parts: climatotherapy, which typically involves controlled exposure individuals natural environmental elements, rehabilitation, includes other therapeutic factors such as physical activities well educating patient change their lifestyle. Methods: included 90 consecutive patients diagnosed with COPD who underwent structured complex High Tatras, part Carpathian Mountains. examination before spirometry, QoL assessment using SGRQ, 6 min walk test (6-MWT), Borg, Beck Zung scale. Results: Patients showed statistically intervention FEV1, FEV1/FVC, 6-MWT, (p < 0.001), anxiety scores, depression, dyspnoea both 6-MWT 0.001). For levels 4 7, we confirmed same clinical bronchial obstruction grade (spirometry) exercise capacity quality life activity score total score. Conclusion. results suggest that values could be sufficient assess significance achieved health status when assessing need comprising climatotherapy COPD.