RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Qualitative aspects of exertional dyspnea in ILD patients before and after oxygen supplementation JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP PA2228 DO 10.1183/13993003.congress-2015.PA2228 VO 46 IS suppl 59 A1 Josuel Ora A1 Angelo Coppola A1 Annapina Barrile A1 Annamaria Salvati A1 Mario Cazzola A1 Paola Rogliani YR 2015 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/46/suppl_59/PA2228.abstract AB Introduction: Dyspnea is a multidimensional respiratory sensation characterized by distinct components: sensorial (intensity, quality) and affective (anxiety, fear). Oxygen therapy (O2th) improves the 6MWT walk distance (6MWD), but it is not know its effect on the different component of dyspnea perception in ILD patients.Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of O2th on the different components of dyspnea perception in ILD patients with exercise induced hypoxia (EIH). Our hypothesis is that O2th would provide a reduction in the affective component of dyspnea and so in the dyspnea perception overall.Methods: 47 ILD patients performed a 6MWT on room air and after O2th. At rest and at peak of exercise, subjects were asked to rate 5 different dyspnea components (1:overall, 2:effort, 3:difficult inspiration, 4:difficult expiration, 5:anxiety) and leg discomfort.Results: 47 ILD patients (FVC: 75%pr; TLC: 72%pr; DL'CO: 35%pr) were studied. The SpO2 nadir (%) and 6MWD (m) before and after O2th were 80±4,7 vs 91±2,7 (p.<0,01), and 242±143 vs 345±106, (p<0,01). After O2th, the dyspnea components 1 and 5 significantly decreased, at rest (1,1±1,4 vs 0,4±0,9, p.<0.01 and 1,1±1,6 vs 0,5±1,3, p.<0.05) and at the end of exercise (5,1±2,6 vs 3,7±2,5, p.<0.001 and 3,4 ±2,9 vs 2,5 ±2,8, p.<0.01) despite a greater distance walked. The other components of dyspnea (2, 3 and 4) and leg discomfort were not affected.Conclusion: In ILD patients, O2th increases the 6MWD. It reduces the dyspnea overall perception and the anxiety component of breathlessness. This study suggests that the different component of the dyspnea could be differently modified by specific treatment.