MEASUREMENT OF DYSPNEA IN CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY-DISEASE

This paper reviews the assessment of shortness of breath in chronic ob structive pulmonary disease (COPD). The validity criteria for evaluati ng measures of dyspnoea are discussed and a description and critique o f current measures of shortness of breath are offered. Across studies, dyspnoea measures are moderately correlated with pulmonary function ( e.g. FEV1.0 and FVC), psychological function, and walking tests (6 min walk). In addition, dyspnoea measures tend to be correlated with one another. The need for standardisation of dyspnoea measures for researc h and clinical practice is identified as an important objective for fu ture work.