Tests to uncover and assess breathlessness : a proposed framework
Ekström, Magnus LU
(2022)
In Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care
16(4).
p.188-194
- Abstract
Purpose of ReviewBreathlessness is a common, distressing, and limiting symptom that many people avoid by reducing their activity. This review discusses exertional tests that can be used for uncovering and assessing breathlessness depending on the person's severity of illness, function, the setting, and aim of the assessment.Recent FindingsStandardized exertional tests are useful to uncover 'hidden' breathlessness earlier in people who may have adapted their physical activity to limit their breathing discomfort. In 'more fit' ambulatory people and outpatients, cardiopulmonary exercise testing is the gold standard for assessing symptom severity, underlying conditions, and mechanisms and treatment effects. Among field tests, the 6-min walk... (More)
Purpose of ReviewBreathlessness is a common, distressing, and limiting symptom that many people avoid by reducing their activity. This review discusses exertional tests that can be used for uncovering and assessing breathlessness depending on the person's severity of illness, function, the setting, and aim of the assessment.Recent FindingsStandardized exertional tests are useful to uncover 'hidden' breathlessness earlier in people who may have adapted their physical activity to limit their breathing discomfort. In 'more fit' ambulatory people and outpatients, cardiopulmonary exercise testing is the gold standard for assessing symptom severity, underlying conditions, and mechanisms and treatment effects. Among field tests, the 6-min walk test is not useful for assessing breathlessness. Instead, the 3-min step test and walk test are validated for measuring breathlessness change in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In people with more severe illness (who are most often not breathless at rest), reported tests include upper limb exercise or counting numbers aloud, but a valid and useful test for this population is lacking.SummaryA framework for selecting the most appropriate test to assess breathlessness validly is proposed, and research needs are identified.
(Less)
- author
- Ekström, Magnus
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2022-12
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- dyspnea, exercise test, measurement, prevalence
- in
- Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care
- volume
- 16
- issue
- 4
- pages
- 7 pages
- publisher
- Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:36165599
- scopus:85141894874
- ISSN
- 1751-4258
- DOI
- 10.1097/SPC.0000000000000617
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 6f5f78f1-ca84-4317-8219-f675d2eaf1ef
- date added to LUP
- 2023-01-02 13:13:37
- date last changed
- 2024-04-18 09:18:53
@article{6f5f78f1-ca84-4317-8219-f675d2eaf1ef,
abstract = {{<p>Purpose of ReviewBreathlessness is a common, distressing, and limiting symptom that many people avoid by reducing their activity. This review discusses exertional tests that can be used for uncovering and assessing breathlessness depending on the person's severity of illness, function, the setting, and aim of the assessment.Recent FindingsStandardized exertional tests are useful to uncover 'hidden' breathlessness earlier in people who may have adapted their physical activity to limit their breathing discomfort. In 'more fit' ambulatory people and outpatients, cardiopulmonary exercise testing is the gold standard for assessing symptom severity, underlying conditions, and mechanisms and treatment effects. Among field tests, the 6-min walk test is not useful for assessing breathlessness. Instead, the 3-min step test and walk test are validated for measuring breathlessness change in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In people with more severe illness (who are most often not breathless at rest), reported tests include upper limb exercise or counting numbers aloud, but a valid and useful test for this population is lacking.SummaryA framework for selecting the most appropriate test to assess breathlessness validly is proposed, and research needs are identified.</p>}},
author = {{Ekström, Magnus}},
issn = {{1751-4258}},
keywords = {{dyspnea; exercise test; measurement; prevalence}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{4}},
pages = {{188--194}},
publisher = {{Lippincott Williams & Wilkins}},
series = {{Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care}},
title = {{Tests to uncover and assess breathlessness : a proposed framework}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/SPC.0000000000000617}},
doi = {{10.1097/SPC.0000000000000617}},
volume = {{16}},
year = {{2022}},
}