Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Breathlessness dimensions should be evaluated in relation to the level of exertion : A clinical study

Elmberg, Viktor LU orcid ; Ali, Gufran ; Gustafsson, David LU orcid ; Jensen, Dennis and Ekström, Magnus LU orcid (2025) In Respiratory Physiology and Neurobiology 333.
Abstract

Background/aim: Exertional breathlessness is a dominating symptom in cardiorespiratory disease, limiting exercise capacity. Multidimensional measurement has been proposed to capture breathlessness, but it is unknown whether it is useful to differentiate people with abnormal vs normal exertional breathlessness intensity. Methods: This was a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial of outpatients aged ≥ 18 years performing a symptom-limited cycle incremental exercise test (IET). Breathlessness sensations at end of IET were identified using the multidimensional dyspnea profile (MDP) 30-min post-exercise and compared between people with abnormally high breathlessness (Borg 0–10 rating > upper limit of normal [ULN]) and people... (More)

Background/aim: Exertional breathlessness is a dominating symptom in cardiorespiratory disease, limiting exercise capacity. Multidimensional measurement has been proposed to capture breathlessness, but it is unknown whether it is useful to differentiate people with abnormal vs normal exertional breathlessness intensity. Methods: This was a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial of outpatients aged ≥ 18 years performing a symptom-limited cycle incremental exercise test (IET). Breathlessness sensations at end of IET were identified using the multidimensional dyspnea profile (MDP) 30-min post-exercise and compared between people with abnormally high breathlessness (Borg 0–10 rating > upper limit of normal [ULN]) and people within normal ranges (≤ ULN) in relation to the percentage of predicted peak power output defined by normative reference equations. Results: Of 92 participants, 20 (22 %) had abnormally high breathlessness. Compared with those with normal breathlessness (n = 72 [78 %]), the abnormal group reported higher symptom intensity at peak exercise (7.9 ± 1.7 vs 6.3 ± 1.4 Borg units; p < 0.001) and had lower peak power output 129 ± 52 W vs 167 ± 55 W; p < 0.001). Differences between those with normal, and abnormal exertional breathlessness regarding MDP ratings were not statistically significant (all p > 0.05): overall unpleasantness, 4.1 ± 2.3 vs 4.7 ± 1.6; immediate perception, 10.9 ± 2.8 vs 11.5 ± 1.8; and emotional response, 4.1 ± 7.6 vs 3.2 ± 7.5. MDP ratings had no relation to peak power output. Conclusion: Breathlessness dimensions are similar at the peak of a standardized IET and cannot differentiate between people with normal and abnormally high exertional breathlessness.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Breathlessness, Dyspnea, Exercise testing, MDP, Multiple dyspnoea profile
in
Respiratory Physiology and Neurobiology
volume
333
article number
104398
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:39870285
  • scopus:85216311968
ISSN
1569-9048
DOI
10.1016/j.resp.2025.104398
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b88c2834-fcbb-40a3-9381-0899455941c2
date added to LUP
2025-03-20 14:39:46
date last changed
2025-07-10 23:22:47
@article{b88c2834-fcbb-40a3-9381-0899455941c2,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background/aim: Exertional breathlessness is a dominating symptom in cardiorespiratory disease, limiting exercise capacity. Multidimensional measurement has been proposed to capture breathlessness, but it is unknown whether it is useful to differentiate people with abnormal vs normal exertional breathlessness intensity. Methods: This was a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial of outpatients aged ≥ 18 years performing a symptom-limited cycle incremental exercise test (IET). Breathlessness sensations at end of IET were identified using the multidimensional dyspnea profile (MDP) 30-min post-exercise and compared between people with abnormally high breathlessness (Borg 0–10 rating &gt; upper limit of normal [ULN]) and people within normal ranges (≤ ULN) in relation to the percentage of predicted peak power output defined by normative reference equations. Results: Of 92 participants, 20 (22 %) had abnormally high breathlessness. Compared with those with normal breathlessness (n = 72 [78 %]), the abnormal group reported higher symptom intensity at peak exercise (7.9 ± 1.7 vs 6.3 ± 1.4 Borg units; p &lt; 0.001) and had lower peak power output 129 ± 52 W vs 167 ± 55 W; p &lt; 0.001). Differences between those with normal, and abnormal exertional breathlessness regarding MDP ratings were not statistically significant (all p &gt; 0.05): overall unpleasantness, 4.1 ± 2.3 vs 4.7 ± 1.6; immediate perception, 10.9 ± 2.8 vs 11.5 ± 1.8; and emotional response, 4.1 ± 7.6 vs 3.2 ± 7.5. MDP ratings had no relation to peak power output. Conclusion: Breathlessness dimensions are similar at the peak of a standardized IET and cannot differentiate between people with normal and abnormally high exertional breathlessness.</p>}},
  author       = {{Elmberg, Viktor and Ali, Gufran and Gustafsson, David and Jensen, Dennis and Ekström, Magnus}},
  issn         = {{1569-9048}},
  keywords     = {{Breathlessness; Dyspnea; Exercise testing; MDP; Multiple dyspnoea profile}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Respiratory Physiology and Neurobiology}},
  title        = {{Breathlessness dimensions should be evaluated in relation to the level of exertion : A clinical study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.resp.2025.104398}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.resp.2025.104398}},
  volume       = {{333}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}