Longitudinal prospective exploratory study on the evolution of dyspnea, in its sensory and affective dimensions, in patients followed for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), between inclusion and a 6-month evaluation

Dyspnea is a multidimensional experience involving a sensory component and an affective component. To better understand this symptom in IPF, this study will describe the different component of dyspnea and their evolution between inclusion and a 6-month evaluation in IPF patients.

There is no strong correlation between the intensity of dyspnea and respiratory function impairments. Innovative techniques demonstrated abnormalities in ventilation variability and pulmonary compliance in patients with interstitial lung disease. These abnormalities could be more relevant to explain dyspnea. The objective of this work is also to assess the link between the different dimensions of dyspnea and respiratory functional parameters, ventilation variability and ventilatory mechanics measured by impulse oscillometry technique.

Inclusion Criteria:

• diagnosis of IPF according to ATS/ERS guidelines
• dyspnea at rest (VAS ≥ 1) or on exertion (mMRC ≥ 1)

Exclusion Criteria:

• diffuse interstitial lung disease other than IPF
• other significant chronic pathology that may cause dyspnea: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, heart failure, anemia, obesity (non-exhaustive list), except for pulmonary hypertension

50 patients with a diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and reporting dyspnea