Table 1.
Characteristic | |
---|---|
Mean (SD) age in years | 76 (5) |
Male sex | 35 (73) |
Dominant aetiology of dyspnoea: | |
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | 42 (88) |
Cancer | 3 (6) |
Motor neurone disease | 1 (2) |
Restrictive lung disease | 2 (4) |
Receiving supplemental oxygen | 34 (71) |
Mean (SD) litres per minute | 1.4 (1.2) |
ECOG performance status score: | |
0=fully active | 0 (0) |
1=restricted in strenuous activity only | 14 (29) |
2=unable to work; up and about more than 50% of waking hours | 20 (42) |
3=confined to bed or chair more than 50% of waking hours | 13 (27) |
4=completely disabled; totally confined to bed or chair | 1 (2) |
Respiratory rate in breaths per minute (SD) | 20 (4) |
Mean (SD) haemoglobin (mmol/l) | 8.4 (1.1) |
Mean (SD) morning dyspnoea score (VAS) | 43 (26) |
Mean (SD) morning dyspnoea score (VAS) range | 2-92 |
ECOG=Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group.
VAS=visual analogue score.