Extract
Chronic breathlessness, which may be better described as persistent breathlessness to optimise applicability to different languages, is a frequent cause of disability in COPD [1]. In many people with advanced COPD, optimising treatment for the underlying causes of breathlessness and employing non-pharmacological approaches does not achieve symptom control [2]. Some people with persistent breathlessness may benefit from regular, low-dose, sustained-release (SR) morphine [3]. Importantly, changes in unidimensional breathlessness measures do not always reflect the patient's perspective of benefit [4]. Optimal ways of measuring meaningful changes in persistent breathlessness are debated [5], but small functional gains are valued by patients [6]. These gains may be reflected in periods of more intense energy expenditure, allowing people to better maintain independence.
Abstract
Persistent breathlessness is a frequent cause of disability in COPD http://bit.ly/3TjvDmV
Footnotes
Conflict of interest: M. Ekström and D.H. Ferreira declare no conflict of interests. M.J. Johnson was a paid clinical consultant to Mayne Pharma. D.J.A. Janssen received research grants from the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMw), Stichting Astmabestrijding and NRS Award; provided paid lectures for Boehringer Ingelheim, Chiesi and Abbott; participated in the BETTER-B Trial Steering Committee, Scientific committee of the Wolfson Palliative Care Research Centre, Hull, UK and an ERS task force. D.C. Currow is an advisory board member and paid consultant for Helsinn Pharmaceuticals; a paid consultant and received payment for intellectual property with Mayne Pharma International Pty Ltd; a paid subcontractor to Nous Group Pty Ltd; a paid board member for icare Dust Diseases Care NSW; unpaid board member/director for Chris O'Brien Lifehouse; and is a board member of IHMRI.
- Received August 1, 2022.
- Accepted October 18, 2022.
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