Predictors of chronic breathlessness: A large population study

Bowden, JA; To, THM; Abernethy, AP; Currow, DC

Predictors of chronic breathlessness: A large population study

Bowden, JA To, THM

Abernethy, AP Currow, DC

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: BMC Public Health, 2011, 11
Issue Date:: 2011-01-14

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Bowden, JA	en_US
dc.contributor.author	To, THM https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0025-6543	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Abernethy, AP	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Currow, DC https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1988-1250	en_US
dc.date.available	2011-01-12	en_US
dc.date.issued	2011-01-14	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	BMC Public Health, 2011, 11	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/118232
dc.description.abstract	Background. Breathlessness causes significant burden in our community but the underlying socio-demographic and lifestyle factors that may influence it are not well quantified. This study aims to define these predictors of chronic breathlessness at a population level. Methods. Data were collected from adult South Australians in 2007 and 2008 (n = 5331) as part of a face-to-face, cross-sectional, whole-of-population, multi-stage, systematic area sampling population health survey. The main outcome variable was breathlessness in logistic regression models. Lifestyle factors examined included smoking history, smoke-free housing, level of physical activity and body mass index (obesity). Results. The participation rate was 64.1%, and 11.1% of individuals (15.0% if aged ≥50 years) chronically had breathlessness that limited exertion. Significant bivariate associations with chronic breathlessness for the whole population and only those ≥50 included: increasing age; female gender; being separated/divorced/widowed; social disadvantage; smoking status; those without a smoke-free home; low levels of physical activity; and obesity. In multi-variate analyses adjusted for age, marital status (p < 0.001), physical activity (p < 0.001), obesity (p < 0.001), gender (p < 0.05) and social disadvantage (p < 0.05) remained significant factors. Smoking history was not a significant contributor to the model. Conclusions. There is potential benefit in addressing reversible lifestyle causes of breathlessness including high body mass index (obesity) and low levels of physical activity in order to decrease the prevalence of chronic breathlessness. Clinical intervention studies for chronic breathlessness should consider stratification by body mass index. © 2011 Bowden et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	BMC Public Health	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1186/1471-2458-11-33	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Public Health	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Dyspnea	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Chronic Disease	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Population Surveillance	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Logistic Models	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Risk Factors	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Cross-Sectional Studies	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Life Style	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Forecasting	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Adult	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Aged	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Middle Aged	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	South Australia	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Female	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Male	en_US
dc.title	Predictors of chronic breathlessness: A large population study	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	11	en_US
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/IMPACCT
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	11	en_US

Abstract:

Background. Breathlessness causes significant burden in our community but the underlying socio-demographic and lifestyle factors that may influence it are not well quantified. This study aims to define these predictors of chronic breathlessness at a population level. Methods. Data were collected from adult South Australians in 2007 and 2008 (n = 5331) as part of a face-to-face, cross-sectional, whole-of-population, multi-stage, systematic area sampling population health survey. The main outcome variable was breathlessness in logistic regression models. Lifestyle factors examined included smoking history, smoke-free housing, level of physical activity and body mass index (obesity). Results. The participation rate was 64.1%, and 11.1% of individuals (15.0% if aged ≥50 years) chronically had breathlessness that limited exertion. Significant bivariate associations with chronic breathlessness for the whole population and only those ≥50 included: increasing age; female gender; being separated/divorced/widowed; social disadvantage; smoking status; those without a smoke-free home; low levels of physical activity; and obesity. In multi-variate analyses adjusted for age, marital status (p < 0.001), physical activity (p < 0.001), obesity (p < 0.001), gender (p < 0.05) and social disadvantage (p < 0.05) remained significant factors. Smoking history was not a significant contributor to the model. Conclusions. There is potential benefit in addressing reversible lifestyle causes of breathlessness including high body mass index (obesity) and low levels of physical activity in order to decrease the prevalence of chronic breathlessness. Clinical intervention studies for chronic breathlessness should consider stratification by body mass index. © 2011 Bowden et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/118232