Breathlessness is a complex symptom that results in poor quality of life, increased hospitalisations and increased mortality. Breathlessness is influenced by physiological, psychological and functional factors but these are poorly explored. There are also unexplored phenomenon's such as breathing pattern. Therefore, this study aims to understand the influences of physiology, psychology, function and breathing pattern on health related quality of life in those with a respiratory disease compared to healthy controls. This project is a cross-sectional cohort study including those with a known respiratory disease and experiencing breathlessness, compared to non-breathless healthy controls. The investigators will measure your physiology through spirometry (a breathing test that tells us about their lung function), psychology through questionnaires, function through an exercise test and breathing pattern using opto-electrictronic plethysmography (markers are placed on your chest to see how participants breathe while exercising). This will be conducted over two visits. The investigators will recruit participants from clinics at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust. The investigators are aiming to recruit 50 participants with a respiratory disease and 25 healthy controls. The results of this study will help us understand breathlessness in more detail in order to be able to develop better treatments.
• Aged 18 or over up to 100
Known respiratory diagnosis* OR Healthy control**
Ongoing symptoms of breathlessness defined as ≥2 MRC dyspnoea scale
Able to communicate in English
• Unstable disease or undergoing investigations for unexplained symptoms
Undergone a surgery within past six weeks
Contraindications for exercise outlined by ACSM guidelines (Unstable CVD, hypertension etc)
BMI ≥ 35kg/m2
The study population consists of a healthy group and a disease group. The disease group will have a known respiratory condition such as COPD, Asthma, ILD or Bronchiectasis. The healthy group will not have any functionally limiting conditions interms, cardiorespiratory and muskuloskeletal.
Cohort
Cross-sectional
Not listed
Breathing pattern regional contribution parameters
Optoelectronic plethysmography allows to quantify how different thoracic compartments contribute to the overall tidal volume through regional contribution parameters. These regional contributions are expressed as percentages.
Breathing pattern-Timing parameters-Recording duration
The duration will be recorded in minutes and seconds to state how long a specific measurement lasted.
Breathing pattern-Timing parameters- Sampling frequency rate
This is one of the core timing parameter. The system uses sample at 60-120 Hz (frames per second).
Breathing pattern-Timing Parameters- Number of respiratory cycles analysed
This parameter is important to give an indication of data adequacy. It will be reported in whole numbers.
Breathing pattern-Ratio parameters-Compartmental contributions
All the parameters will be expressed as percentages. (%RCp, %RCa and %AB) typically ranging from (0-100%)
Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.
