Health status is usually impaired in patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Generic and specific questionnaires have been used as measures of the health status. They can provide information on the patient's status that cannot be established using physiological evaluations. Health status is improved by smoking cessation, bronchodilators and rehabilitation. Inhaled corticosteroids can be useful in patients with more severe disease or more frequent exacerbations. No progress in health status has been observed with oral corticosteroids nor mucomodifiers. For patients with severe chronic respiratory failure, health status can sometimes be improved with long-term oxygenotherapy and supplemental oxygenotherapy during exercise.