Hand held fans for dyspnoea relief in COPD: Physical properties and patient perceptions

COPD patients may remain breathless despite optimal medical treatment. Recently hand held fans (HHF) have been suggested to relieve breathlessness, but no recommendations exist for the choice of the ideal fan. In addition, the impact of HHF properties on patient perceptions remains unexplored. Subjects with COPD (n=33) randomly trialled 5 HHF and completed numerical rating scales (NRS) for perceived airflow, pleasantness of airflow, noisiness, and ease of use. Subjects ranked each HHF from best (5a.u.) to worst (1a.u.) which were then added to produce total HHF scores (T-HHF; maximum 160a.u.). Objective measurements made of sound intensity (dB meter) and airflow (anemometer; at 15cm from HHF). Data analysed with linear regression of T-HHF scores against mean NRS values (Pearson correlation coefficients; p Subjects were 68.7±8.9 years (mean±SD), 63% male, with FEV 1 of 1.1±0.5L. HHF 5 scored highest (140a.u.) and HHF 3 lowest (58a.u.). T-HHF positively correlated with perceived airflow (r=0.90;p=0.04), pleasantness of airflow (r=0.96;p=0.01), and inversely with noisiness (r=-0.97;p=0.01). Perceived airflow correlated with actual airflow (r=0.90;p=0.04). HHF 5 was the overall preferred fan. Patient preference was related to increased intensity and pleasantness of airflow and reduced noise. Future research should explore the relationship between HHF characteristics and breathlessness relief.