Main Article Content

Factors associated with discrepancies between poor dyspnea perception and abnormal lung function in 65 asthmatic patients


Asmaa Jniene
Leila Achachi
Mustapha El Bakkali
Laila Herrak
Aziza Rhanim
Souad Aboudrar
Taoufiq Dakka
Mustapha El Ftouh

Abstract

Background: Dyspnea is a subjective symptom of asthma whose perception is characterized by an interindividual varia- bility. Poor dyspnea perception is usually associated with increased risk of exacerbation and may lead to inappropriate asth- ma management and under-treatment. We sought to identify factors associated with discrepancies between poor dyspnea perception and abnormal lung function in patients with moderate persistent asthma.


Methodology: 65 patients, who attended their scheduled follow-up pulmonology consultation at Ibn Sina Hospital (Rabat - Morocco), underwent interrogation including modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) scale for dyspnea, physical examination and spirometry. Two groups, those with mMRC < 2 (poor dyspnea perceivers) and those with mMRC scale ≥ 2 were compared.


Results: Poor dyspnea perception was found in 21 patients (32.3%). Associated factors were male sex (p : 0.03), low so- cio-economic income (p : 0.01), an onset of symptoms greater than 10 years (p : 0.01), BMI ≥ 25 Kg/m2 (p : 0.04) and depression (p : 0.04).


Conclusion: The results revealed factors significantly associated with poor dyspnea perception despite an obstructive venti- latory disorder. These factors could usefully be considered to successfully manage asthma as well as the regular prescription of an objective test like spirometry.


Keywords: Asthma; dyspnea perception; spirometry.


Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 1729-0503
print ISSN: 1680-6905