Influence of anxiety on health outcomes in COPD

Background Psychological functioning is an important determinant of health outcomes in chronic lung disease. To better define the role of anxiety in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a study was conducted of the inter-relations between anxiety and COPD in a large cohort of subjects with COPD and a matched control group. Methods Data were used from the FLOW (Function, Living, Outcomes, and Work) cohort of patients with COPD (n1202) and matched controls without COPD (n302). Anxiety was measured using the Anxiety subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Results COPD was associated with a greater risk of anxiety in multivariable analysis (OR 1.85; 95 % CI 1.07