TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevalence, severity and impacts of breathlessness in Indian adults
T2 - An exploratory, nationally representative, cross-sectional online survey
AU - Kochovska, Slavica
AU - Iyer, Rajam
AU - Chang, Sungwon
AU - Ferreira, Diana
AU - Brunelli, Vanessa N.
AU - Kinchin, Irina
AU - Eckert, Danny J.
AU - Clark, Joseph
AU - Sandberg, Jacob
AU - Ekström, Magnus
AU - Currow, David
AU - Rajan, Sujeet
PY - 2024/5
Y1 - 2024/5
N2 - There are no known estimates of the prevalence, severity and impacts from breathlessness in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to explore the prevalence, severity, self-attributed underlying conditions and impacts of breathlessness limiting exertion in community-dwelling adults in India. This exploratory, population-based online survey recruited a pre-planned sample of 3,000 adult respondents stratified by age, sex and rurality (quotas as per the 2011 Indian National Census). Measures included: demographics; breathlessness limiting exertion (modified Medical Research [mMRC] scale); health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-5L); and disability (World Health Organisation’s Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 12-item questionnaire [WHODAS-12]). Respondents (n = 3,046) had a mean age of 38 years (SD 15); 57% were male, 59% lived in rural areas and 33% had completed 12th grade. Breathlessness limiting exertion (mMRC ≥1) was reported by 44%, mostly attributed to poor nutrition (28%), lung conditions excluding tuberculosis (17%) or anaemia (13%). Compared to those without breathlessness, a higher proportion of people with breathlessness (mMRC ≥1) reported problems across all EQ-5D-5L dimensions. Most people reporting breathlessness (81%) indicated the symptom had adversely affected their normal activities. Disability scores (WHODAS-12 total and individual domains) increased as breathlessness worsened. To conclude, in India, conservative estimates indicate 626 million people live with breathlessness of whom 52 million people live with severe breathlessness. The symptom is associated with poorer health-related quality of life and marked disability, including reduced ability to perform daily activities.
AB - There are no known estimates of the prevalence, severity and impacts from breathlessness in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to explore the prevalence, severity, self-attributed underlying conditions and impacts of breathlessness limiting exertion in community-dwelling adults in India. This exploratory, population-based online survey recruited a pre-planned sample of 3,000 adult respondents stratified by age, sex and rurality (quotas as per the 2011 Indian National Census). Measures included: demographics; breathlessness limiting exertion (modified Medical Research [mMRC] scale); health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-5L); and disability (World Health Organisation’s Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 12-item questionnaire [WHODAS-12]). Respondents (n = 3,046) had a mean age of 38 years (SD 15); 57% were male, 59% lived in rural areas and 33% had completed 12th grade. Breathlessness limiting exertion (mMRC ≥1) was reported by 44%, mostly attributed to poor nutrition (28%), lung conditions excluding tuberculosis (17%) or anaemia (13%). Compared to those without breathlessness, a higher proportion of people with breathlessness (mMRC ≥1) reported problems across all EQ-5D-5L dimensions. Most people reporting breathlessness (81%) indicated the symptom had adversely affected their normal activities. Disability scores (WHODAS-12 total and individual domains) increased as breathlessness worsened. To conclude, in India, conservative estimates indicate 626 million people live with breathlessness of whom 52 million people live with severe breathlessness. The symptom is associated with poorer health-related quality of life and marked disability, including reduced ability to perform daily activities.
U2 - 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002655
DO - 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002655
M3 - Article
C2 - 38696528
AN - SCOPUS:85195520813
SN - 2767-3375
VL - 4
JO - PLOS global public health
JF - PLOS global public health
IS - 5 May
M1 - e0002655
ER -