Breathlessness Perceptions Within Respiratory Diseases (NCT07648082) | Clinical Trial Compass
RecruitingNot Applicable
Breathlessness Perceptions Within Respiratory Diseases
United Kingdom75 participantsStarted 2025-06-06
Plain-language summary
Breathlessness is a complex symptom that results in poor quality of life, increased hospitalisations and increased mortality. Breathlessness is influenced by physiological, psychological and functional factors but these are poorly explored. There are also unexplored phenomenon's such as breathing pattern. Therefore, this study aims to understand the influences of physiology, psychology, function and breathing pattern on health related quality of life in those with a respiratory disease compared to healthy controls. This project is a cross-sectional cohort study including those with a known respiratory disease and experiencing breathlessness, compared to non-breathless healthy controls. The investigators will measure your physiology through spirometry (a breathing test that tells us about their lung function), psychology through questionnaires, function through an exercise test and breathing pattern using opto-electrictronic plethysmography (markers are placed on your chest to see how participants breathe while exercising). This will be conducted over two visits. The investigators will recruit participants from clinics at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust. The investigators are aiming to recruit 50 participants with a respiratory disease and 25 healthy controls. The results of this study will help us understand breathlessness in more detail in order to be able to develop better treatments.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 100 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* • Aged 18 or over up to 100
* Known respiratory diagnosis\* OR Healthy control\*\*
* Ongoing symptoms of breathlessness defined as ≥2 MRC dyspnoea scale
* Able to communicate in English
* Able to attend two study visits
* Able to provide written informed consent
* Known respiratory diagnosis could include, but is not limited to, COPD, Asthma, Bronchiectasis or ILD.
* Healthy controls are required to have an absence of a functionally limiting condition such as respiratory, cardiovascular, or musculoskeletal.
Exclusion Criteria:
* • Unstable disease or undergoing investigations for unexplained symptoms
* Undergone a surgery within past six weeks
* Contraindications for exercise outlined by ACSM guidelines (Unstable CVD, hypertension etc)
* BMI ≥ 35kg/m2
* Unable to communicate in English
* Unable to provide written informed consent
* Unable to abstain from smoking for 8 hours prior to testing
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1This trial is studying how people with conditions like COPD, asthma, ILD, bronchiectasis, or breathing pattern disorder actually experience breathlessness — would my specific diagnosis make me a relevant candidate to discuss with you?
2Since this study is measuring 'regional breathing pattern contributions,' what does that actually involve for me as a participant — are there any breathing tests, sensors, or imaging involved that I should know about?
3This trial is listed as Phase NA, which usually means it's observational or focused on measurement rather than testing a new treatment — does that mean there's no experimental drug or procedure involved, and what would I actually be asked to do if I took part?
4Would joining this study in any way change or delay the standard treatment plan you'd recommend for my condition, or is it something I could participate in alongside my usual care?
5If this research helps improve how doctors measure and understand breathlessness patterns, how might that benefit patients like me in the future, even if it doesn't directly change my treatment right now?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.