Breathing pattern and breathlessness in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: An observational study.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is characterized by progressive decline in lung function and increasing dyspnoea. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship among IPF, pulmonary function, resting tidal breathing patterns and level of breathlessness.


METHODS
Thirty-one participants with IPF and 17 matched healthy controls underwent lung function testing, followed by a 2-min period of resting tidal breathing. The IPF cohort was stratified according to disease severity, based on their forced vital capacity and diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide.


RESULTS
In comparison to the healthy controls, the IPF cohort showed a higher tidal volume, VT , of 0.22 L (P = 0.026) and a raised minute ventilation in the severest IPF group, while no differences in the timing of inspiration or expiration were observed. In the IPF cohort, the ratio of VT to forced vital capacity was around 15% higher. These changes corresponded with an increase in the self-reported sensation of breathlessness.


CONCLUSION
Those with IPF increased their depth of breathing with worsening disease severity, with IPF-induced changes in pulmonary function and breathlessness associated with an altered tidal breathing pattern.
['Olukogbon|Kasope L|KL|', 'Thomas|Paul|P|', 'Colasanti|Ricardo|R|', 'Hope-Gill|Ben|B|', 'Williams|Edgar Mark|EM|']
D000368:Aged D000369:Aged, 80 and over D002248:Carbon Monoxide D016022:Case-Control Studies D004417:Dyspnea D045853:Exhalation D005260:Female D006801:Humans D054990:Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis D001239:Inhalation D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D011653:Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity D012720:Severity of Illness Index D013990:Tidal Volume D014797:Vital Capacity
breathing pattern dyspnoea diffusion capacity cough flow-volume loop