Loading...
The aim of this study was to examine the sensitivity of dyspnea scales in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and to search for correlations with other objective measures of pulmonary function. Data came from 46 patients with ALS in a prospective study of a treatment device; the study had negative findings. Patients completed two symptom questionnaires, one at baseline and one at various follow-up points.
According to the baseline scale, 33% of patients had moderate-to-severe functional impairment due to dyspnea, 52% had dyspnea with moderate or less effort, and 54% had dyspnea during average or lighter tasks. These data quantitate dyspnea in ALS in a novel way. The longitudinal measure of dyspnea documented worsening in 39% of patients at 4…