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Prevalence and severity of differing dimensions of breathlessness among elderly males in the population

Olsson, Max LU orcid ; Currow, David C. ; Johnson, Miriam J. ; Sandberg, Jacob LU orcid ; Engström, Gunnar LU and Ekström, Magnus LU orcid (2022) In ERJ open research 8(1). p.1-10
Abstract
Breathlessness is common in the general population. Existing data were obtained primarily with the uni-dimensional modified Medical Research Council breathlessness scale (mMRC) that does not assess intensities of unpleasantness nor physical, emotional and affective dimensions. The aim of this research was to determine the prevalence and intensity of these dimensions of breathlessness in elderly males and any associations with their duration, change over time and mMRC grade.

We conducted a population-based, cross-sectional study of 73-year-old males in a county in southern Sweden. Breathlessness was self-reported at one time point using a postal survey including the Dyspnea-12 (D-12), the Multidimensional Dyspnea Profile (MDP) and... (More)
Breathlessness is common in the general population. Existing data were obtained primarily with the uni-dimensional modified Medical Research Council breathlessness scale (mMRC) that does not assess intensities of unpleasantness nor physical, emotional and affective dimensions. The aim of this research was to determine the prevalence and intensity of these dimensions of breathlessness in elderly males and any associations with their duration, change over time and mMRC grade.

We conducted a population-based, cross-sectional study of 73-year-old males in a county in southern Sweden. Breathlessness was self-reported at one time point using a postal survey including the Dyspnea-12 (D-12), the Multidimensional Dyspnea Profile (MDP) and the mMRC. Presence of an increased dimension score was defined as a score ≥minimal clinically important difference for each dimension scale. Association with the mMRC, recalled change since age 65, and duration of breathlessness were analysed with linear regression.

Among 907 men, an increased dimension score was present in 17% (D-12 total score), 33% (MDP A1 unpleasantness), 19% (D-12 physical), 17% (MDP immediate perception), 10% (D-12 affective) and 17% (MDP emotional response). The unpleasantness and affective dimensions were strongly associated with mMRC≥3. Higher MDP and D-12 scores were associated with worsening of breathlessness since age 65, and higher MDP A1 unpleasantness was associated with breathlessness of less than 1 year duration.

Increased scores of several dimensions of breathlessness are prevalent in 73-year-old males and are positively correlated with mMRC scores, worsening of breathlessness after age 65, and duration of less than 1 year. (Less)
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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
ERJ open research
volume
8
issue
1
article number
00553-2021
pages
1 - 10
publisher
European Respiratory Society
external identifiers
  • scopus:85124816364
  • pmid:35141316
ISSN
2312-0541
DOI
10.1183/23120541.00553-2021
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
32512f64-ab96-4a3f-abaa-50722ff0cee8
date added to LUP
2022-02-07 13:31:58
date last changed
2022-05-11 03:00:02
@article{32512f64-ab96-4a3f-abaa-50722ff0cee8,
  abstract     = {{Breathlessness is common in the general population. Existing data were obtained primarily with the uni-dimensional modified Medical Research Council breathlessness scale (mMRC) that does not assess intensities of unpleasantness nor physical, emotional and affective dimensions. The aim of this research was to determine the prevalence and intensity of these dimensions of breathlessness in elderly males and any associations with their duration, change over time and mMRC grade.<br/><br/>We conducted a population-based, cross-sectional study of 73-year-old males in a county in southern Sweden. Breathlessness was self-reported at one time point using a postal survey including the Dyspnea-12 (D-12), the Multidimensional Dyspnea Profile (MDP) and the mMRC. Presence of an increased dimension score was defined as a score ≥minimal clinically important difference for each dimension scale. Association with the mMRC, recalled change since age 65, and duration of breathlessness were analysed with linear regression.<br/><br/>Among 907 men, an increased dimension score was present in 17% (D-12 total score), 33% (MDP A1 unpleasantness), 19% (D-12 physical), 17% (MDP immediate perception), 10% (D-12 affective) and 17% (MDP emotional response). The unpleasantness and affective dimensions were strongly associated with mMRC≥3. Higher MDP and D-12 scores were associated with worsening of breathlessness since age 65, and higher MDP A1 unpleasantness was associated with breathlessness of less than 1 year duration.<br/><br/>Increased scores of several dimensions of breathlessness are prevalent in 73-year-old males and are positively correlated with mMRC scores, worsening of breathlessness after age 65, and duration of less than 1 year.}},
  author       = {{Olsson, Max and Currow, David C. and Johnson, Miriam J. and Sandberg, Jacob and Engström, Gunnar and Ekström, Magnus}},
  issn         = {{2312-0541}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{1--10}},
  publisher    = {{European Respiratory Society}},
  series       = {{ERJ open research}},
  title        = {{Prevalence and severity of differing dimensions of breathlessness among elderly males in the population}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1183/23120541.00553-2021}},
  doi          = {{10.1183/23120541.00553-2021}},
  volume       = {{8}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}