Assessment of factors influencing dyspnea sensation in patients hospitalized in India and Poland

Abstract

Background: Dyspnea is a frequent, difficult to measure subjective sensation in hospitalized patients. Objective: To find out which factors impact dyspnea sensation in patients hospitalized in Indian and Polish pulmonary departments. Methods: 340 patients were assessed with BORG, MRC, NYHA scales. Dyspnea was correlated with: 6MWT, spirometry results, level of education and disease awareness in both populations. Results: Patients were of the same age 57 (18-88) and 58 (17-92) years (p=0.5), but not height 169 (140-191) and 157(142-183)cm (p<0.00001) in Poland and India respectively. Polish patients reported less dyspnea reflected in all scales, e.g. BORG (1.9±2.1 vs 4.1±1.3); p<0.00001). This was reflected in 6MWT distance: 401±138 i and 114±41m (p<0.00001) in Poles and Indians respectively. All scales correlated with daily life activity limitation and spirometry results. Patients with no limitations had less dyspnea (BORG 3.4±1.9 vs 1.1±1.4; p<0.00001). Patients with knowledge of their diagnosis presented less dyspnea, than unaware ones: BORG (2.1±2 vs 3.1±2; p<0.00001). Education was related to dyspnea sensation in both nations. However, its alleviation did not simply rise linearly along with education level . View this table: Dyspnea and education Conclusions: Although dyspnea sensation is stronger in Indian than Polish in both nations it correlates with exercise capacity, spirometry results, patients' education and disease related knowledge.