Differences in uni-dimensional breathlessness measures and thresholds for clinical response in a randomised controlled trial in people with chronic breathlessness: an exploratory study
Introduction Optimally measuring improvements in chronic breathlessness in clinical practice and research continues to evolve. The aim of this study was to consider the performance of uni-dimensional measures in chronic breathlessness limiting exertion.Methods We report five measures of breathlessne...
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BMJ Publishing Group
2024-12-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open Respiratory Research |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopenrespres.bmj.com/content/11/1/e002370.full |
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| author | David Currow Magnus Ekström Miriam Johnson Sandra Louw Philip McCloud Katherine Clark Diana Ferreira |
| author_facet | David Currow Magnus Ekström Miriam Johnson Sandra Louw Philip McCloud Katherine Clark Diana Ferreira |
| author_sort | David Currow |
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| description | Introduction Optimally measuring improvements in chronic breathlessness in clinical practice and research continues to evolve. The aim of this study was to consider the performance of uni-dimensional measures in chronic breathlessness limiting exertion.Methods We report five measures of breathlessness (intensity: worst, best and average in the previous 24 hours; breathlessness now; and an affective component unpleasantness now) and two clinical thresholds over baseline on their 0–100 mm visual analogue scale (8.9 mm absolute improvement; and 15% relative improvement) collected in a multi-site, randomised, double-blind, parallel-arm, placebo-controlled trial of regular, low-dose, sustained-release morphine for people with chronic breathlessness with optimally treated underlying causes.Results Participants (n=284) were mostly elderly men with severe, chronic breathlessness. Worst breathlessness in the previous 24 hours showed improvement in people with more severe breathlessness and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. By contrast, breathlessness now and average breathlessness in the previous 24 hours generated similar patterns of response, as did unpleasantness now and breathlessness now. Best breathlessness added little value. The two clinical thresholds showed differing patterns of significance.Discussion Consistent with other recent work, worst breathlessness may be an important uni-dimensional outcome in evaluating chronic breathlessness clinically and in research. This study does not support a differential between unpleasantness now and breathlessness now, previously observed in laboratory-generated, acute-on-chronic breathlessness. Timeframe for recall (now or the last 24 hours) and the threshold for a clinical meaningful improvement (absolute (8.9 mm) or relative (15%)) affect assessment performance. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2052-4439 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
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| series | BMJ Open Respiratory Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-3f2c3c60d00c417fb0377b46c406e86c2025-08-20T02:36:14ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open Respiratory Research2052-44392024-12-0111110.1136/bmjresp-2024-002370Differences in uni-dimensional breathlessness measures and thresholds for clinical response in a randomised controlled trial in people with chronic breathlessness: an exploratory studyDavid Currow0Magnus Ekström1Miriam Johnson2Sandra Louw3Philip McCloud4Katherine Clark5Diana Ferreira6University of Wollongong Faculty of Science Medicine and Health, Wollongong, New South Wales, AustraliaFaculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Lund, SwedenHull York Medical School, The University of Hull, Hull, UKMcCloud Consulting Group, Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaMcCloud Consulting Group, Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaNorthern Sydney Local Health District, Saint Leonards, New South Wales, AustraliaUniversity of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, AustraliaIntroduction Optimally measuring improvements in chronic breathlessness in clinical practice and research continues to evolve. The aim of this study was to consider the performance of uni-dimensional measures in chronic breathlessness limiting exertion.Methods We report five measures of breathlessness (intensity: worst, best and average in the previous 24 hours; breathlessness now; and an affective component unpleasantness now) and two clinical thresholds over baseline on their 0–100 mm visual analogue scale (8.9 mm absolute improvement; and 15% relative improvement) collected in a multi-site, randomised, double-blind, parallel-arm, placebo-controlled trial of regular, low-dose, sustained-release morphine for people with chronic breathlessness with optimally treated underlying causes.Results Participants (n=284) were mostly elderly men with severe, chronic breathlessness. Worst breathlessness in the previous 24 hours showed improvement in people with more severe breathlessness and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. By contrast, breathlessness now and average breathlessness in the previous 24 hours generated similar patterns of response, as did unpleasantness now and breathlessness now. Best breathlessness added little value. The two clinical thresholds showed differing patterns of significance.Discussion Consistent with other recent work, worst breathlessness may be an important uni-dimensional outcome in evaluating chronic breathlessness clinically and in research. This study does not support a differential between unpleasantness now and breathlessness now, previously observed in laboratory-generated, acute-on-chronic breathlessness. Timeframe for recall (now or the last 24 hours) and the threshold for a clinical meaningful improvement (absolute (8.9 mm) or relative (15%)) affect assessment performance.https://bmjopenrespres.bmj.com/content/11/1/e002370.full |
| spellingShingle | David Currow Magnus Ekström Miriam Johnson Sandra Louw Philip McCloud Katherine Clark Diana Ferreira Differences in uni-dimensional breathlessness measures and thresholds for clinical response in a randomised controlled trial in people with chronic breathlessness: an exploratory study BMJ Open Respiratory Research |
| title | Differences in uni-dimensional breathlessness measures and thresholds for clinical response in a randomised controlled trial in people with chronic breathlessness: an exploratory study |
| title_full | Differences in uni-dimensional breathlessness measures and thresholds for clinical response in a randomised controlled trial in people with chronic breathlessness: an exploratory study |
| title_fullStr | Differences in uni-dimensional breathlessness measures and thresholds for clinical response in a randomised controlled trial in people with chronic breathlessness: an exploratory study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Differences in uni-dimensional breathlessness measures and thresholds for clinical response in a randomised controlled trial in people with chronic breathlessness: an exploratory study |
| title_short | Differences in uni-dimensional breathlessness measures and thresholds for clinical response in a randomised controlled trial in people with chronic breathlessness: an exploratory study |
| title_sort | differences in uni dimensional breathlessness measures and thresholds for clinical response in a randomised controlled trial in people with chronic breathlessness an exploratory study |
| url | https://bmjopenrespres.bmj.com/content/11/1/e002370.full |
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