SELF-BREATHE: an individualised approach

Chronic breathlessness affects 2 million people in the UK and 75 million people worldwide. This persistent symptom continues despite optimal treatments for the underlying conditions, such as cancer, lung disease, or heart failure. Chronic breathlessness is complex and multidimensional, making it difficult to treat effectively. The success of treatments and interventions can vary based on individual characteristics, specific diseases, and how breathlessness presents itself.

Understanding the complexity and multifaceted nature of chronic breathlessness is crucial for its effective management. Researchers at the Cicely Saunders Institute aimed to explore patients’ perceptions of their illness and their cognitive and behavioural responses to living with advanced respiratory disease.

The researchers analysed data from a randomized control trial called SELF-BREATHE, involving individuals experiencing chronic breathlessness. They found that patients’ perceptions of their breathlessness and their emotional responses to it were linked to more severe breathlessness, increased distress, reduced ability to self-manage their symptoms, and a lower quality of life.

The researchers concluded that interventions targeting patients’ perceptions of their illness and their cognitive and behavioural responses to breathlessness may help reduce symptom burden and improve quality of life.