ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical significance of alexithymia in combined assessment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
MethodsA total of 60 patients were enrolled during July 2013 and July 2014, who were divided into four groups according to modified British medical research council (mMRC), pulmonary function and acute exacerbation risk. Toronto Alexithymia Scale 20 (TAS-20) was used to detect alexithymia.
ResultsThirty-eight patients had no alexithymia including 20 males and 18 females with an average age of (72.7±8.7) years. Twenty-two patients had alexithymia including 18 males and 4 females with an average age of (76.8±7.9) years. Incidence of alexithymia in the COPD patients was 36.7%.The differences in gender, mMRC, pulmonary function and combined assessment between the COPD patients without alexithymia and the COPD patients with alexithymia were significantly different (P < 0.05). The scores of TAS-20 and its subscale F1, F2, F3 in different groups of combined assessment showed significant difference (P < 0.05). Alexithymia evaluation showed positively correlations with mMRC, pulmonary function grades and combined assessment.
ConclusionsThe prevalence of alexithymia in COPD patients is high and closely related to COPD disease severity. Attentions should be paid to alexithymia in combined assessment of COPD patients.
