Profile of Descriptive Parameters of Pulmonary Function in Patients with Dyspnea

Background: Within any defined diseased group, the relationship between pulmonary function impairment and dyspnoea is reasonably close. This study was conducted to assess the relation of the different grades of dyspnoea to the pulmonary function and quantify breathlessness. Aim: This study was aimed to identify severity of dyspnoea and to establish a correlation with functional lung impairment. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 102 patients with complaints of dyspnoea, attending the outdoor department and indoor ward of respiratory medicine, RIMS Imphal. The patients were graded according to Modified Medical Research Council (MMRC) Dyspnoea Scale. Lung function test was performed by spirometry and Forced Vital capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in first second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC, Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR), Forced Expiration Flow rate (FEF25-75%) were studied. Result: There is a statistically significant reduction in FVC, FEV1, PEFR, FEF25-75% as the grading of dyspnoea increases from grade 0 to grade IV. Conclusion: The deterioration in lung function parameters is directly related to the severity of dyspnoea as graded by MMRC dyspnoea scale. There is a strong correlation between the indirect (MMRC) and direct (spirometric values) evaluation of dyspnoea.