Meal-induced oxygen desaturation and dyspnea in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: RESULTS (2)

For both groups, mean values for all three oxygen parameters measured changed significantly between control and eating periods during both AE and PE (P<0.001). Although mean SpO2 and mean lowest SpO2 were lower and percentage of time with SpO2 less than 90% was greater in group B during eating, this was likely because of differences in baseline values. The actual changes in the parameters with eating, during either AE or PE, were similar for groups A and B.

Table 4 documents the dyspnea scores in patients during control periods as well as during AE and PE. Dyspnea increased significantly during both AE and PE (P<0.001). However, the increase in reported dyspnea was greater during AE than PE (P<0.05). Dyspnea scores were also analyzed for the patients grouped as described above by severity (groups A and B). Baseline dyspnea was not significantly different between groups A and B (Table 5). Mean dyspnea scores changed significantly between control and eating periods for both groups A and B during AE and during PE. The change in dyspnea scores with either AE or PE was similar in groups A and B.

Table 4. Dyspnea score during eating (cm) for groups A and B

Results presented as mean ± SD. *Dyspnea increased significantly during the eating periods for both AE and PE (P<0.05). Increase in reported dyspnea was greater during active eating (AE) than during passive eating (PE) (P<0.05)

Table 5. Dyspnea scores during eating (cm) for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) greater than 35% predicted (group A, n=17) and FEV1 less than 35% predicted (group B, n=18)

All results present as mean ± SD. Baseline dyspnea was not significantly different between groups A and B (P=0.86). Mean dyspnea scores changed significantly between control and eating periods for both A and B during AE and PE (P<0.05). The change in dyspnea scores with either AE or PE was similar in groups A and B

Category: Meal-induced oxygen

Tags: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD, Meal desaturation, Meal dyspnea, Oxygen desaturation