BACKGROUND: Common among patients with COPD is declining health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Although results of research identified some factors associated with HRQOL, resilience factors are yet to be fully investigated.

METHODS: This study examined resilience and demographic factors associated with HRQOL. Participants >40 y old were recruited from community health programs and hospitals in South East Queensland. Self-administered questionnaires were used to query subjects' HRQOL and levels of resilience. A decision tree examined the factors important to HRQOL in 159 subjects with COPD.

RESULTS: Factors of importance in the HRQOL of subjects with COPD were found in 3 domains of the St George Respiratory Questionnaire. Of importance on the breathlessness domain was marital status, defensive coping, coping, number of comorbidities, relationships, decision-making, self-esteem, self-efficacy, and professional support of health and well-being. Of the symptoms domain, self-efficacy, recruitment location, anxiety/depression, decision-making, self-esteem, coping, relationships, professional support of health and well-being, and risks were important. The cough domain found recruitment location, anxiety/depression, professional support of health and well-being, coping, and defensive coping to be important for subjects' HRQOL.

CONCLUSIONS: Resilience and confounding factors were of importance in the HRQOL of subjects with COPD. Thus, consultation with a medical professional, especially at discharge, who identifies, encourages, and approves of the patient's disease management abilities will enhance both resilience and HRQOL.