How do dyspnoea scales compare with measurement of functional capacity in patients with COPD and at risk of COPD?
Summary of "How do dyspnoea scales compare with measurement of functional capacity in patients with COPD and at risk of COPD?"
BACKGROUND:
In primary care, formal functional capacity testing is not always feasible. Guidelines for family practitioners suggest the use of dyspnoea scales to assess exercise tolerance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
AIMS:
To examine whether the use of activity-based dyspnoea scales can substitute for actual functional capacity testing.
METHODS:
128 subjects (49% at risk of COPD, 24% GOLD stage I, 17% GOLD stage II, 9% GOLD stage III) performed an Incremental Shuttle Walk Test (ISWT) and completed the Medical Research Council dyspnoea scale (MRC), Baseline Dyspnoea Index (BDI), Oxygen Cost Diagram (OCD), Clinical COPD Questionnaire (CCQ), and St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ).
RESULTS:
Analysis of variance showed that the relationship between the ISWT and the MRC dyspnoea scale was statistically significant but moderate (p<0.001, R2=0.166). Correlations between the ISWT and the other dyspnoea scales were also moderate (correlation coefficients 0.34-0.42). Combining the dyspnoea scales in one analysis resulted in a proportion of explained variance of the ISWT of 21.4% (R2=0.214).
CONCLUSIONS:
Dyspnoea scales cannot substitute for formal functional capacity testing. Authors of COPD guidelines should consider stating more specifically that the MRC and similar scales measure (self-reported) activity-related dyspnoea but cannot replace objectively measured functional capacity.
Affiliation
Department of Medical Psychology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands • Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Journal Details
This article was published in the following journal.
Name: Primary care respiratory journal : journal of the General Practice Airways Group
ISSN: 1475-1534
Pages:
Links
- PubMed Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22453664
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4104/pcrj.2012.00031
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Pelvimetry
Measurement of the dimensions and capacity of the pelvis. It includes cephalopelvimetry (measurement of fetal head size in relation to maternal pelvic capacity), a prognostic guide to the management of LABOR, OBSTETRIC associated with disproportion.
Total Lung Capacity
The volume of air contained in the lungs at the end of a maximal inspiration. It is the equivalent to each of the following sums: VITAL CAPACITY plus RESIDUAL VOLUME; INSPIRATORY CAPACITY plus FUNCTIONAL RESIDUAL CAPACITY; TIDAL VOLUME plus INSPIRATORY RESERVE VOLUME plus functional residual capacity; or tidal volume plus inspiratory reserve volume plus EXPIRATORY RESERVE VOLUME plus residual volume.
Pain Measurement
Scales, questionnaires, tests, and other methods used to assess pain severity and duration in patients or experimental animals to aid in diagnosis, therapy, and physiological studies.
Forced Expiratory Volume
Measure of the maximum amount of air that can be expelled in a given number of seconds during a FORCED VITAL CAPACITY determination . It is usually given as FEV followed by a subscript indicating the number of seconds over which the measurement is made, although it is sometimes given as a percentage of forced vital capacity.
Personality Assessment
The determination and evaluation of personality attributes by interviews, observations, tests, or scales. Articles concerning personality measurement are considered to be within scope of this term.
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