Understanding chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-related loneliness: a scoping review.

Abstract

Although increasingly recognized, loneliness in COPD remains poorly understood. This review aims to inform rehabilitation practice and guide future research. The review was guided by the following questions: What are the key characteristics of emotional, social, and existential loneliness as described by individuals living with COPD? What constitutes COPD-related loneliness as experienced by these individuals? This scoping review is informed by the Joanna Briggs Institute guidance. A systematic search was conducted in seven databases. Studies were screened following a stepwise approach. Data was extracted to identify key characteristics of loneliness and to develop analytical themes of COPD-related loneliness. Seventeen publications were included. First, key characteristics of emotional, social, and existential loneliness were identified. Next, four analytical themes describing COPD-related loneliness were developed: (1) the condition reduces social contacts and interactions, (2) being housebound, (3) it is a lonely battle, and (4) feeling like a second-class person living in a parallel world. COPD-related loneliness is a complex and evolving experience. Current rehabilitation programs insufficiently address emotional and existential dimensions of loneliness. Rehabilitation must explicitly target COPD-related loneliness as a central component of care, supported by tailored assessment tools and interventions that capture its condition-specific features.