Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 8, 2026
Dual Test Gas Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity Measurement During Exercise in Humans Using the Single-Breath Method
Published on: February 2, 2024
Cross-sectional assessment of the relationships between dyspnea domains and lung function in diffuse parenchymal lung
Cécile Londner1, Ghanima Al Dandachi, Laurent Plantier
1Service de Physiologie, Clinique de la Dyspnée, Hôpital Européen Georges-Pompidou, Paris, France.
Background:
Activity-related dyspnea is the main contributor to the altered quality of life in diffuse parenchymal lung diseases (DPLD). Instruments pertaining to dyspnea are classified as pertaining to domains of sensory-perceptual experience, affective distress or symptom/disease impact; whether these domains are equally related to lung function impairments remains to be established.
Objectives:
They were to assess the relationships between two domains of dyspnea (sensory-perceptual experience and symptom impact) and pulmonary function tests according to their evaluation of ventilatory demand, capacity and drive in patients suffering from DPLD.
Methods:
Fifty patients were prospectively enrolled (median age, 58 years; 25 women) and underwent spirometry, body plethysmography, measurements of lung diffusion for carbon monoxide (DLCO) and nitric oxide, maximal airway pressures (capacity and demand assessments), mouth occlusion pressure at 0.1 s (P0.1: respiratory drive assessment) and a 6-min walk test with Borg score assessment (dyspnea: sensory domain). The impact domain of dyspnea was evaluated using the baseline dyspnea index.
Results:
The sensory domain of dyspnea was linked to demand (CO transfer coefficient, kCO) only, while the impact domain was independently linked to demand and capacity (kCO and forced vital capacity, respectively). Among resting pulmonary function tests, both P0.1 and DLCO allowed the assessment of these two domains of dyspnea.
Conclusions:
In DPLD, the sensory-perceptual domain of dyspnea is mainly linked to alterations in ventilatory demand while the impact domain is related to both demand and capacity. DLCO that assesses both demand and capacity and P0.1 were the strongest correlates of dyspnea.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:27Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-IV: Assessement and Diagnostic Studies
Medical History
01:23Assessment of Respiration
Subjective Assessment: Nurses interview the patient to gather information directly during the subjective assessment. It includes questions about the individual's medical history, medications, and symptoms, focusing on past respiratory conditions like asthma or COPD,...
01:17Assessment of Diffusion and Perfusion
The Role of Diffusion in Respiration
Diffusion is the process by which molecules move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. In the respiratory system, this principle...
01:29Assessment of Ventilation II: Respiratory Depth and Rhythm
Respiratory depth measures the volume of air inhaled or exhaled during a breath. It can vary from shallow to deep and typically remains consistent when a person is at rest or asleep. Occasionally, individuals will automatically inhale deeply, known as sighing, which inflates the lungs with more air than normal breathing.
To assess respiratory depth, observe the degree of chest excursion or movement:
01:20Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-I: Introduction
01:27Physical Assessment of the Respiratory Tract II: Inspection
Chest Configuration
The chest configuration can...