The impact of social and psychological support on patients with varying degrees of severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effects of social support and psychological interventions on COPD patients across varying severity levels. Methods: This prospective, randomized controlled study included 172 COPD patients from two hospitals between January 2021 and June 2024. Finally, 132 participants were enrolled and randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 66), receiving standard medical treatment plus systematic social and psychological support, or a control group (n = 66), receiving standard treatment and routine health education. The intervention lasted for 12 months. Primary outcomes, including quality of life (SGRQ), mental health (HADS), exercise capacity (6MWT), dyspnea (MRC scale), and pulmonary function (FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC), were assessed before and after the intervention. Results: No significant baseline differences were observed. After 12 months, the intervention group showed significant improvements in SGRQ, HADS, and MRC scores (p < 0.05), 6MWT distance, and pulmonary function (p < 0.05). Mild and moderate COPD patients in the intervention group showed significant improvements in all outcomes compared to baseline and the control group (p < 0.05). Severe and very severe patients showed improvements in SGRQ and HADS scores (p < 0.05), but no changes in 6MWT or pulmonary function (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Structured social and psychological interventions significantly improve quality of life, mental health, exercise capacity, and pulmonary function in mild to moderate COPD patients, but with limited effects on severe and very severe patients.