Recent developments in managing breathlessness: International researchers' meeting on Breathlessness in London, November 2006

Abstract

Intractable breathlessness is the most common and distressing symptom in far-advanced cardiopulmonary disease. It affects millions of people world-wide. Despite advances in research over recent years there are still many unresolved questions regarding the pathophysiology and aetiology of breathlessness as well as the best management options. At an international meeting in London, researchers discussed how to improve and extend breathlessness research. Topics ranged from qualitative through to biomedical research and included: (i) the aetiology of breathlessness in cancer and its relation to deconditioning; (ii) the personal experience of breathlessness and social effects of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); (iii) the measurement of breathlessness; (iv) the use of grey literature; (v) the latest developments in functional brain imaging (fMRI); and (vi) the effects of a breathlessness intervention service (BIS) to help patients cope with their breathlessness. Various areas for further research were identified such as understanding the genesis of breathlessness, the role of pulmonary rehabilitation in cancer patients and the need for functional imaging studies in patients with breathlessness.