Dyspnea perception in COPD: association between anxiety, dyspnea-related fear, and dyspnea in a pulmonary rehabilitation program

Chest. 2011 Sep;140(3):618-625. doi: 10.1378/chest.10-3257. Epub 2011 Apr 14.

Abstract

Background: A growing body of research connects anxiety with poorer outcomes in COPD. However, more specific measures of dyspnea-related fear may be more closely related to critical processes involved in pulmonary rehabilitation (perception of dyspnea and avoidance of physical activity) and may have a predictive value for COPD outcome beyond general anxiety measures.

Methods: In this naturalistic outcome study, we investigated the effects of baseline anxiety and dyspnea-related fear on perceived dyspnea and other outcomes of a well-established pulmonary rehabilitation program for COPD.

Results: Seventy-three patients participated in the study. At baseline, higher dyspnea-related fear was associated with higher levels of dyspnea during ergometer exercise, but also with a steeper decrease of exercise dyspnea during the course of pulmonary rehabilitation, whereas lower dyspnea-related fear was associated with an increase in exercise dyspnea, even when controlling for anxiety, lung function, and exercise intensity. Furthermore, higher dyspnea-related fear was associated with reduced quality of life (mastery subscale) and maximal exercise capacity at baseline, but also with a steeper increase in quality of life (emotions and mastery subscale) and exercise capacity during rehabilitation. However, the association of dyspnea-related fear with worse 6-min walking distance and impairment in daily activities persisted throughout rehabilitation.

Conclusions: Results indicate a mediating effect of dyspnea-related fear on the association between anxiety and exercise-related dyspnea. Exercise in pulmonary rehabilitation in people with higher baseline dyspnea-related fear may act as a correction of excessive symptom reports through exposure to dyspneic situations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Anxiety / epidemiology*
  • Dyspnea / epidemiology
  • Dyspnea / psychology*
  • Dyspnea / therapy
  • Exercise Test
  • Fear*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / epidemiology
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / physiopathology
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / psychology*
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / rehabilitation
  • Quality of Life
  • Surveys and Questionnaires