Prevalence and burden of breathlessness in Australian adults: The National Breathlessness Survey-a cross-sectional web-based population survey.

Poulos, LM; Ampon, RD; Currow, DC; Marks, GB; Toelle, BG; Reddel, HK

Prevalence and burden of breathlessness in Australian adults: The National Breathlessness Survey-a cross-sectional web-based population survey.

Poulos, LM Ampon, RD Currow, DC Marks, GB Toelle, BG Reddel, HK

Permalink

Publisher:: Wiley
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Respirology, 2021, 26, (8), pp. 768-775
Issue Date:: 2021-08

Closed Access

	Filename	Description	Size
	Respirology - 2021 - Poulos - Prevalence and burden of breathlessness in Australian adults The National Breathlessness.pdf		1.7 MB	Adobe PDF	View/Open

Copyright Clearance Process

Recently Added
In Progress
Closed Access

This item is closed access and not available.

Full metadata record

Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Poulos, LM
dc.contributor.author	Ampon, RD
dc.contributor.author	Currow, DC
dc.contributor.author	Marks, GB
dc.contributor.author	Toelle, BG
dc.contributor.author	Reddel, HK
dc.date.accessioned	2021-12-17T00:28:42Z
dc.date.available	2021-04-14
dc.date.available	2021-12-17T00:28:42Z
dc.date.issued	2021-08
dc.identifier.citation	Respirology, 2021, 26, (8), pp. 768-775
dc.identifier.issn	1323-7799
dc.identifier.issn	1440-1843
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/152372
dc.description.abstract	Background and objective Chronic respiratory symptoms (in particular, breathlessness and cough) can cause physical, social and emotional distress, and may indicate the presence of an underlying disease that presages future poor health outcomes. Our aim was to investigate the burden of breathlessness in Australian adults, including breathlessness that may be undiagnosed, unlabelled or untreated. Methods The National Breathlessness Survey was a cross-sectional, web-based survey conducted in October 2019. Australian adults were randomly selected from a large web-based survey panel with recruitment stratified by age-group, gender and state of residence according to national population data. The main outcome measures were modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnoea scale, EuroQol visual analog scale, Dyspnoea-12 score and 4-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-4). Results Among all respondents (n = 10,072; 51.1% female; median age group 40–49 years), 9.5% reported clinically important breathlessness (mMRC dyspnoea grade ≥ 2, 2 = ‘I walk slower than people of the same age on the level because of breathlessness or have to stop for breath when walking at my own pace on the level’). Among those with clinically important breathlessness, 49.1% rated their general health as fair or poor and 44.2% had at least moderate depression or anxiety symptoms (PHQ ≥ 6) but over half (50.8%) did not report a current respiratory or heart condition diagnosis. Conclusion Breathlessness is common among Australian adults, and is associated with a substantial burden of ill health, including among people without a diagnosed respiratory or heart condition. The extent of underdiagnosis of these conditions or alternative causes of breathlessness requires further investigation.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Wiley
dc.relation.ispartof	Respirology
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1111/resp.14070
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	11 Medical and Health Sciences
dc.subject.classification	Respiratory System
dc.subject.mesh	Adult
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Cost of Illness
dc.subject.mesh	Cross-Sectional Studies
dc.subject.mesh	Dyspnea
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Internet
dc.subject.mesh	Male
dc.subject.mesh	Prevalence
dc.title	Prevalence and burden of breathlessness in Australian adults: The National Breathlessness Survey-a cross-sectional web-based population survey.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	26
utslib.location.activity	Australia
utslib.for	11 Medical and Health Sciences
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.consider-herdc	false
dc.date.updated	2021-12-17T00:28:40Z
pubs.issue	8
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	26
utslib.citation.issue	8

Abstract:

Background and objective Chronic respiratory symptoms (in particular, breathlessness and cough) can cause physical, social and emotional distress, and may indicate the presence of an underlying disease that presages future poor health outcomes. Our aim was to investigate the burden of breathlessness in Australian adults, including breathlessness that may be undiagnosed, unlabelled or untreated. Methods The National Breathlessness Survey was a cross-sectional, web-based survey conducted in October 2019. Australian adults were randomly selected from a large web-based survey panel with recruitment stratified by age-group, gender and state of residence according to national population data. The main outcome measures were modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnoea scale, EuroQol visual analog scale, Dyspnoea-12 score and 4-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-4). Results Among all respondents (n = 10,072; 51.1% female; median age group 40–49 years), 9.5% reported clinically important breathlessness (mMRC dyspnoea grade ≥ 2, 2 = ‘I walk slower than people of the same age on the level because of breathlessness or have to stop for breath when walking at my own pace on the level’). Among those with clinically important breathlessness, 49.1% rated their general health as fair or poor and 44.2% had at least moderate depression or anxiety symptoms (PHQ ≥ 6) but over half (50.8%) did not report a current respiratory or heart condition diagnosis. Conclusion Breathlessness is common among Australian adults, and is associated with a substantial burden of ill health, including among people without a diagnosed respiratory or heart condition. The extent of underdiagnosis of these conditions or alternative causes of breathlessness requires further investigation.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/152372