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Predictors of chronic breathlessness: a large population study
Jacqueline A Bowden1, Timothy H M To, Amy P Abernethy
1Cancer Council, South Australia, 202 Greenhill Rd, Parkside, South Australia, Australia. jbowden@cancersa.org.au
BMC Public Health
|January 14, 2011
Summary
Chronic breathlessness affects many, with age, social disadvantage, and obesity being key predictors. Addressing lifestyle factors like physical activity and body mass index can reduce its prevalence.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Lifestyle Medicine
Background:
- Chronic breathlessness significantly impacts community health.
- Socio-demographic and lifestyle factors influencing breathlessness require quantification.
- Population-level predictors of chronic breathlessness are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify socio-demographic and lifestyle predictors of chronic breathlessness at a population level.
- To quantify the influence of factors such as age, gender, social status, smoking, physical activity, and obesity on breathlessness.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional population health survey of adult South Australians (n=5331).
- Data collected via face-to-face interviews.
- Logistic regression models used to analyze breathlessness as the main outcome variable, examining lifestyle factors including smoking, smoke-free housing, physical activity, and body mass index.
Main Results:
- 11.1% of participants experienced chronic breathlessness limiting exertion (15.0% for those aged ≥50).
- Significant bivariate associations included increasing age, female gender, marital status, social disadvantage, smoking, lack of smoke-free home, low physical activity, and obesity.
- Multivariate analyses confirmed age, marital status, physical activity, obesity, gender, and social disadvantage as significant predictors; smoking history was not significant.
Conclusions:
- Reversible lifestyle factors like high body mass index (obesity) and low physical activity present opportunities to reduce chronic breathlessness prevalence.
- Interventions targeting obesity and physical activity are recommended.
- Future clinical trials for chronic breathlessness should consider stratifying participants by body mass index.
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