Breathlessness descriptors during constant load cycling in obese men with and without dyspnea on exertion

During constant load exercise, some otherwise healthy obese men experience dyspnea on exertion (+DOE), while others do not (−DOE). Their subjective respiratory sensations may explain why the intensity of breathlessness is greater in +DOE. 18 obese men participated and were divided based on their Ratings of Perceived Breathlessness (RPB, Borg 0–10 scale) during minute 6 of constant load (90 W) cycle exercise; ten +DOE (RPB ≥ 4) (36 yr, 39 BMI, 3.1 L/min peak V̇ O 2 , 104% predV̇O 2 ) and eight −DOE (RPB ≤ 2) (34 yr, 35 BMI, 3.0 L/min peak V̇O 2 , 104% predV̇ O 2 ). After the exercise, subjects filled out a questionnaire asking them to pick three of fifteen descriptors that best described the respiratory sensations they felt. Data were analyzed using z‐test proportion comparisons and clusters. Both +DOE and −DOE groups chose descriptors with similar frequency, only “I feel that I am breathing more” (+DOE 80%, −DOE 50%) and “I feel that my breathing is rapid” (+DOE 20%, −DOE 50%) differed slightly but not significantly between the groups (p=0.37). The top four clusters were ‘Breathing more’ (67% of all participants), ‘Heavy’ (44%), ‘Work/Effort’ (44%), and ‘Rapid” (33%). We conclude that obese men with and without DOE describe their respiratory sensations similarly during submaximal exercise, although their intensity of breathlessness is different. Supported by HL096782 , King Charitable Foundation Trust, ALA, AHA.