RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Dyspnoea: a multidimensional and multidisciplinary approach JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP 1750 OP 1762 DO 10.1183/09031936.00092613 VO 43 IS 6 A1 Louis Laviolette A1 Pierantonio Laveneziana YR 2014 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/43/6/1750.abstract AB Dyspnoea is a debilitating symptom that affects quality of life, exercise tolerance and mortality in various disease conditions/states. In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), it has been shown to be a better predictor of mortality than forced expiratory volume in 1 s. In patients with heart disease it is a better predictor of mortality than angina. Dyspnoea is also associated with decreased functional status and worse psychological health in older individuals living at home. It also contributes to the low adherence to exercise training programmes in sedentary adults and in COPD patients. The mechanisms of dyspnoea are still unclear. Recent studies have emphasised the multidimensional nature of dyspnoea in the sensory–perceptual (intensity and quality), affective distress and impact domains. The perception of dyspnoea involves a complex chain of events that depend on varying cortical integration of several afferent/efferent signals and coloured by affective processing. This review, which stems from the European Respiratory Society research symposium held in Paris, France in November 2012, aims to provide state-of-the-art advances on the multidimensional and multidisciplinary aspects of dyspnoea, by addressing three different themes: 1) the neurophysiology of dyspnoea, 2) exercise and dyspnoea, and 3) the clinical impact and management of dyspnoea. ERS research faculty emphasises the need to translate new understanding of dyspnoea mechanisms into better treatment http://ow.ly/sxpFG