[A visual analog scale of exercise dyspnea].
We have adapted a visual analogue scale (VAS) to make repeated measurements of the sensation of dyspnoea during an exercise test on a bicycle ergometer. We tested the reproducibility of the development of the VAS as a function of work load and its sensitivity in detecting changes in the sensation of dyspnoea induced by the addition of an inspiratory resistance or by a trial of oxygen administration in 13 patients who were dyspnoeic on effort. The reproducibility was acceptable providing to perform a preliminary test and to eliminate the rare subjects who was incapable of performing the test (1/13). The method turned out to be equally sensitive as to the effect of inspiratory resistance for 8/12 patients and for the oxygen enrichment of inspired air for 8/9 patients. This scale thus provides a reproducible and sensitive estimation of the sensation of dyspnoea during effort and thus appears valuable in evaluating the subjective response in therapeutic trials in patients who are dyspnoeic on effort.
Loiseau
A
A
INSERM U 82, Faculté Xavier Bichat, Paris.
Dubreuil
C
C
Pujet
J C
JC
D000368:Aged; D000403:Airway Resistance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015444:Exercise; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000502:physiology; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D010100:Oxygen
Echelle visuelle analogique de dyspnée à l'exercice.