Summary

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease [COPD] has a high prevalence among Chilean adults. Because it is a chronic pathology, the treatment is aimed at the reduction and management of problems originating from the symptoms caused by the condition, and increasing the Quality of Life [QOL]. There is little consensus regarding the determinants of QoL. Objective: Examine and compare two measures of QoL used among patients with COPD. Methodology: One hundred and thirty two patients with COPD were evaluated using two QOL specific scales: St George's Respiratory Questionnaire [SGRQ], and Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire [CRQ]. Physiologic indicators nere reponed and analyzed according to the results obtained from these scales. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, factorials, and correlations. Results: The scales most frequently used to evaluate QoL, SGRQ y CRQ, are aimed at diferent topics (r = 0.089), which bring to light that with the same pathology, quality of life is evaluated in diferent ways. Conclusions: The scales used most to evaluate QoL in COPD have different conceptual definitions. The choice of which scale to use with these patients should take this into account.