Breathlessness in Elderly Adults During the Last Year of Life Sufficient to Restrict Activity: Prevalence, Pattern, and Associated Factors

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
Miriam J JohnsonDavid C Currow

Abstract

To investigate relationships between age, clinical characteristics, and breathlessness sufficient to have people spend at least half a day a month in bed or to cut down on their usual activities (restricting breathlessness) during the last year of life. Secondary data analysis. General community. Nondisabled persons aged 70 and older (N=754). Monthly telephone interviews were conducted to determine the occurrence of restricting breathlessness. The primary outcome was percentage of months with restricting breathlessness reported during the last year of life. Data regarding breathlessness were available for 548 of 589 (93.0%) participants who died (mean age 86.7, range 71-106; 38.8% male) between enrollment (March 1998 to October 1999) and June 2013; 311 of these (56.8%) reported restricting breathlessness at some point during the last year of life, but none reported it every month. Frequency increased in the months closer to death, irrespective of cause. Restricting breathlessness was associated with anxiety (0.25 percentage points greater in months with breathlessness per percentage point months reported anxiety, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.16-0.34, P<.001), depression (0.14, 95% CI=0.05-0.24, P=.003), and mobility problems ...Continue Reading

References

Feb 1, 1994·Social Science & Medicine·I HigginsonM McCarthy
Nov 1, 1994·American Journal of Public Health·E H WagnerD M Buchner
Jun 1, 1996·European Journal of Cancer : Official Journal for European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) [and] European Association for Cancer Research (EACR)·G BuccheriM Tamburini
Jul 28, 1999·Supportive Care in Cancer : Official Journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer·C Ripamonti
Nov 14, 2000·JAMA : the Journal of the American Medical Association·K E SteinhauserJ A Tulsky
Mar 17, 2001·The Journals of Gerontology. Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences·L P FriedUNKNOWN Cardiovascular Health Study Collaborative Research Group
Jun 8, 2001·Age and Ageing·S F HoM L Burr
Oct 16, 2002·Journal of Psychosomatic Research·Wayne Katon, Paul Ciechanowski
May 15, 2003·JAMA : the Journal of the American Medical Association·June R LunneyJack M Guralnik
Jan 1, 1964·American Journal of Public Health and the Nation's Health·E C HAMMOND
Mar 1, 2006·Archives of Internal Medicine·Thomas M GillLing Han
Mar 7, 2006·Respiratory Medicine·Asa NeumanChrister Janson
Mar 31, 2006·Supportive Care in Cancer : Official Journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer·Jane M GeraciCarmen P Escalante
Apr 12, 2007·Chest·Ernesto CrisafulliEnrico M Clini
Aug 10, 2007·International Journal of Clinical Practice·F PedersenP R Hildebrandt
Apr 26, 2008·Journal of Applied Physiology·Dror OfirDenis E O'Donnell
Oct 14, 2009·Journal of Pain and Symptom Management·David C CurrowAmy P Abernethy
Feb 9, 2010·Emergency Medicine Australasia : EMA·Amanda SaracinoAndrew W Dent
Feb 20, 2010·The Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing·Christina QuinnMelinda Higgins
Apr 2, 2010·The New England Journal of Medicine·Thomas M GillHeather G Allore
Jul 22, 2010·The New England Journal of Medicine·June R Lunney, Joanne Lynn
Nov 4, 2010·JAMA : the Journal of the American Medical Association·Susan L MitchellMichele L Shaffer
Jan 14, 2011·BMC Public Health·Jacqueline A BowdenDavid C Currow
Apr 29, 2011·Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology·Jordan A GuenetteDenis E O'Donnell
Aug 20, 2011·The Journals of Gerontology. Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences·Thomas M GillHeather G Allore
Apr 24, 2012·Age and Ageing·Tanvir AhmedM Sinead O'Mahony
Nov 2, 2013·The European Respiratory Journal·Rune GrønsethPaul Enright
Jan 24, 2014·Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine·Miriam J JohnsonSara Booth

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Oct 21, 2016·Journal of the American Geriatrics Society·Brienne MinerCarlos A Vaz Fragoso
Mar 11, 2017·Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine·Carlo BarbettaMiriam J Johnson
Jan 10, 2018·Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology·Theodora NikolaidouAndrew L Clark
Nov 29, 2017·The American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care·Sarah A WittryThomas McNalley
Jun 22, 2018·Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care·Zainab Ahmadi
Jul 28, 2018·The European Respiratory Journal·David C CurrowMagnus Ekström
Aug 5, 2016·Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care·Magnus Ekström
Jun 24, 2017·Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care·Noel Baxter
Apr 4, 2020·The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging·T M GillT E Murphy
Jun 24, 2018·NPJ Primary Care Respiratory Medicine·Magnus EkströmDavid C Currow
Oct 18, 2019·BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care·Kim de NooijerLieve Van den Block
Jul 6, 2021·Palliative Medicine Reports·Slavica KochovskaDavid C Currow

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.