Understanding Breathlessness and Breathing Patterns in Adults with Respiratory Diseases Compared to Healthy Adults

What this Trial Is About

Breathlessness is a challenging symptom that lowers quality of life, increases hospital visits, and raises mortality risk. It results from a mix of physical, psychological, and functional factors, but these interactions are not well understood. This research compares adults with respiratory diseases who experience breathlessness to healthy adults without breathlessness to better understand how these factors influence health and quality of life. Participants in this study undergo tests over two visits. These include lung function tests using spirometry, questionnaires to assess psychological factors, exercise tests to evaluate physical function, and breathing pattern analysis using optoelectronic plethysmography, which tracks chest movements during exercise. The study aims to recruit 50 people with respiratory diseases and 25 healthy controls without limiting conditions. The research will look closely at breathing patterns and their relationship to breathlessness severity. During the study, participants will have lung function measured, complete questionnaires on symptoms and mental health, and perform exercise tests while wearing special markers to monitor breathing. Researchers will assess breathlessness using several scales and tools, including the Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale and the Borg breathlessness scale. The study will collect data on heart rate variability, oxygen levels, and blood pressure to understand the complex factors behind breathlessness. Participation lasts from June 2025 through July 2026, with all measurements taken during this period.

Breathlessness Perceptions Within Respiratory Diseases