Marie Williams1, Paul Cafarella2, Timothy Olds3, John Petkov4, Peter Frith5. 1. School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, City East Campus, Adelaide. Electronic address: marie.williams@unisa.edu.au. 2. Department of Respiratory Medicine, Repatriation General Hospital, Daw Park, Adelaide. 3. School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, City East Campus, Adelaide. 4. Applied Statistics Unit, University of South Australia, Whyalla Campus, Whyalla. 5. Respiratory Services, Repatriation General Hospital and Flinders Medical Centre, Repatriation General Hospital, Daw Park, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: If descriptors of the sensation of breathlessness are able to differentiate between medical conditions, the language of breathlessness could potentially have a role in differential diagnosis. This study investigated whether the language used to describe the sensation of breathlessness accurately categorized older individuals with and without a prior diagnosis of COPD. METHODS: Using a parallel-group design, participants with and without a prior diagnosis of COPD volunteered words and phrases and endorsed up to three statements to describe their sensation of breathlessness. Cluster analysis (v-fold cross-validation) was applied, and subjects were clustered by their choice of words. Cluster membership was then compared to original group membership (COPD vs non-COPD), and predictive power was assessed. RESULTS: Groups were similar for age and gender (COPD, n = 94; 48 men; mean age, 70 +/- 10 years [+/- SD]; vs non-COPD, n = 55; 21 men; mean age, 69 +/- 13 years) but differed significantly in breathlessness-related impairment, intensity, and quality of life (p < 0.0001). Cluster membership corresponded accurately with original group classifications (volunteered, 85%; and up to three statements, 68% agreement). Classification based on a single best descriptor (volunteered [62%] or endorsed [55%]) was less accurate for group membership. CONCLUSIONS: Language used to describe the sensation of breathlessness differentiated people with and without a prior diagnosis of COPD when descriptors were not limited to a single best word or statement.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: If descriptors of the sensation of breathlessness are able to differentiate between medical conditions, the language of breathlessness could potentially have a role in differential diagnosis. This study investigated whether the language used to describe the sensation of breathlessness accurately categorized older individuals with and without a prior diagnosis of COPD. METHODS: Using a parallel-group design, participants with and without a prior diagnosis of COPD volunteered words and phrases and endorsed up to three statements to describe their sensation of breathlessness. Cluster analysis (v-fold cross-validation) was applied, and subjects were clustered by their choice of words. Cluster membership was then compared to original group membership (COPD vs non-COPD), and predictive power was assessed. RESULTS: Groups were similar for age and gender (COPD, n = 94; 48 men; mean age, 70 +/- 10 years [+/- SD]; vs non-COPD, n = 55; 21 men; mean age, 69 +/- 13 years) but differed significantly in breathlessness-related impairment, intensity, and quality of life (p < 0.0001). Cluster membership corresponded accurately with original group classifications (volunteered, 85%; and up to three statements, 68% agreement). Classification based on a single best descriptor (volunteered [62%] or endorsed [55%]) was less accurate for group membership. CONCLUSIONS: Language used to describe the sensation of breathlessness differentiated people with and without a prior diagnosis of COPD when descriptors were not limited to a single best word or statement.
Authors: Andrew Harver; Richard M Schwartzstein; Harry Kotses; C Thomas Humphries; Karen B Schmaling; Melanie Lee Mullin Journal: Chest Date: 2010-12-23 Impact factor: 9.410
Authors: Kylie Hill; Richard Hodder; Maria Blouin; Diane Heels-Ansdell; Gordon Guyatt; Roger Goldstein Journal: Can Fam Physician Date: 2011-02 Impact factor: 3.275