Assessment of the relationship between pulmonary function test and dyspnea index in patients with bronchial asthma.

Kim, Se Kyu; Cheon, Seon Hee; Chang, Joon Ha; Jong, Won Hong; Chein, Soo; Kim, Sung Kyu; Lee, Won Young

doi:1992.39.5.392

Tuberc Respir Dis > Volume 39(5); 1992 > Article

Original Article

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 1992;39(5):392-399.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.1992.39.5.392 Published online October 1, 1992.

Assessment of the relationship between pulmonary function test and dyspnea index in patients with bronchial asthma.

Se Kyu Kim, Seon Hee Cheon, Joon Ha Chang, Won Hong Jong, Soo Chein, Sung Kyu Kim, Won Young Lee

Department of lnternal Medicine, College of Medicine Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea

Abstract

Background
Despite dyspnea is a predominant complaint of patients with respiratory disease, the mechanisms contributing to the sensation of breathlessness are poorly understood. Traditionally, physicians have measured objective pulmonary function to assess severity of dyspnea. But it will be also useful to measure subjective dyspnea index because dyspnea probably depends on a complex interplay of mechanical, experimental, emotional and other factors.
Methods
We measured breathlessness at rest, after Methacholine challenge and then bronchodilator inhalation using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Borg Scale Dyspnea Index (BSDI) in stable asthmatic patients. Spirometry was performed concomitantly.
Results
There was no correlation between dyspnea index and FEV l. There was also no correlation between the change in dyspnea index and change in FEVl. The change in dyspnea index after methacholine and bronchodilator was greater in clinically mild asthmatic patients than clinically severe symptomatic group.
Conclusions
: In asthmatic patients, there was a wide variation in sensory response for any given FEVl , and the change in perception of dyspnea was greater in those with clinically mild symptoms. The measurement of dyspnea index may yield information complementary to that obtained by spirometry.

Key Words: Bronchial asthma, Dyspnea index, Spirometry, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Borg Scale Dyspnea Index (BSDI)