How Can We Assess the Perception of Induced Dyspnea in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease?

2004

Objective TO evaluate various methods for studying the perception of dyspnea in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) using a new parameter, the change in Borg scale rating, and others already in use: the linear regression slope and the application of Stevens' law to the response-perception curve-ie change in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (ΔFEV 1 )-change in dyspnea (Adyspnea). Patients and method A bronchial challenge test was performed on 70 patients with stable COPD and no contraindications for performing the test (European Respiratory Society criteria), during which dyspnea was measured (Borg scale) after each nebulization. Perception was analyzed using: a ) the linear reg…