Pawel Holas1, Julia Szymańska2, Anna Dubaniewicz3, Małgorzata Farnik4, Agnieszka Jarzemska5, Izabela Krejtz6, Marta Maskey-Warzechowska7, Joanna Domagala-Kulawik8. 1. University of Warsaw, Faculty of Psychology, Krakowskie Przedmiescie 26/28, 00 927 Warsaw, Poland. Electronic address: pawel.holas@psych.uw.edu.pl. 2. University of Warsaw, Faculty of Psychology, Krakowskie Przedmiescie 26/28, 00 927 Warsaw, Poland. Electronic address: julia.szymanska@psych.uw.edu.pl. 3. Department of Pneumonology, Medical University of Gdansk, Al. Zwycięstwa 41/42, 80-210 Gdansk, Poland. Electronic address: aduban@gumed.edu.pl. 4. Department of Pneumonology, Medical University of Silesia, ul. Medykow 18, 40-752 Katowice, Poland. Electronic address: mfarnik@interia.pl. 5. Department of Pneumonology, Oncology and Tuberculosis, Collegium Medicum, ul. Jagiellońska 13-15, 85-067 Bydgoszcz, Poland. Electronic address: ajarzemska@wp.pl. 6. Interdisciplinary Center for Applied Cognitive Studies, SWPS University, Chodakowska 19/31, 03-815 Warsaw, Poland. Electronic address: ikrejtz@swps.edu.pl. 7. Department of Internal Medicine, Pneumonology and Allergology, Medical University of Warsaw, Zwirki i Wigury 61, 00-001 Warsaw, Poland. Electronic address: mmaskey@op.pl. 8. Department of Internal Medicine, Pneumonology and Allergology, Medical University of Warsaw, Zwirki i Wigury 61, 00-001 Warsaw, Poland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the relationship of an objective functional lung parameter (FVC) and a subjective psychological factor (physical symptom concerns) with dyspnea in sarcoidosis. Dyspnea constitutes one of the most common and burdensome symptoms in sarcoidosis, yet little is known about its mechanisms and, in particular, psychological. METHOD: A total of 107 hospitalized sarcoidosis patients (Female=50, Mage=45.3years) volunteered to take part in the correlational research study. Participants underwent spirometry and completed the MRC Dyspnea Scale and the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI) questionnaire. Linear hierarchical regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between the studied predictors and dyspnea severity. RESULTS: The best fitting model predicted 18% of variance in dyspnea severity. Physical symptom concerns subscale of ASI (β=0.24) and FVC (β=-0.23) were significantly related to dyspnea MRC severity, but only physical concerns remained significantly related to dyspnea when both predictors were in the model. CONCLUSIONS: The current results suggest that both psychological and physiological factors should be taken into account when explaining subjective dyspnea severity in sarcoidosis. More specifically, these findings call for including cognitive vulnerability factors related to anxiety (physical symptom concerns) into the diagnostic procedures and management of dyspnea in sarcoidosis.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the relationship of an objective functional lung parameter (FVC) and a subjective psychological factor (physical symptom concerns) with dyspnea in sarcoidosis. Dyspnea constitutes one of the most common and burdensome symptoms in sarcoidosis, yet little is known about its mechanisms and, in particular, psychological. METHOD: A total of 107 hospitalized sarcoidosispatients (Female=50, Mage=45.3years) volunteered to take part in the correlational research study. Participants underwent spirometry and completed the MRC Dyspnea Scale and the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI) questionnaire. Linear hierarchical regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between the studied predictors and dyspnea severity. RESULTS: The best fitting model predicted 18% of variance in dyspnea severity. Physical symptom concerns subscale of ASI (β=0.24) and FVC (β=-0.23) were significantly related to dyspnea MRC severity, but only physical concerns remained significantly related to dyspnea when both predictors were in the model. CONCLUSIONS: The current results suggest that both psychological and physiological factors should be taken into account when explaining subjective dyspnea severity in sarcoidosis. More specifically, these findings call for including cognitive vulnerability factors related to anxiety (physical symptom concerns) into the diagnostic procedures and management of dyspnea in sarcoidosis.