Respiratory failure & ventilation
Breathlessness assessment, management and impact in the intensive care unit: a rapid review and narrative synthesis
Authors' conclusion
Breathlessness in adults receiving IMV, NIV or HFOT in the ICU is prevalent and clinically important with median intensity ratings indicating the presence of moderate to severe symptoms.
Study context
- Population
- Adults in the intensive care unit (ICU) receiving invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), NIV or high-flow oxygen therapy (HFOT)
- Participants
- 2,822 adults · 19 studies
- Outcome
- Prevalence, intensity, assessment and management of breathlessness; impact on engagement with rehabilitation
Methodological detailsCochrane Methods Group Recommendations, PRISMA reporting, quality appraised, Searched PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, June 2013 to June 2023
- Cochrane Methods Group Recommendations
- PRISMA reporting
- Quality appraised
- Searched PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, June 2013 to June 2023
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Breathlessness prevalence and intensity
- Weighted mean prevalence of breathlessness, IMV (range 34-66%)
- 49%
- Moderate to severe dyspnoea before NIV initiation
- 55%
- Highest reported median (IQR) visual analogue scale (VAS), NIV
- 6.2cm (0-10 cm)
- Highest reported median (IQR) numerical rating scale (NRS), NIV
- 5 (2-7)
- Highest reported median (IQR) mBORG, NIV
- 6 (2.3-7)
- Highest reported median (IQR) VAS, NIV or HFOT
- 3 cm (0-6 cm)
- Highest reported median (IQR) NRS, NIV or HFOT
- 8 (5-10)
- Highest reported median (IQR) mBORG, NIV or HFOT
- 4 (3-5)
Further findings
Assessment tools
- VAS, NRS and modified BORG scale (mBORG) used
Original publication
Breathlessness assessment, management and impact in the intensive care unit: a rapid review and narrative synthesis. Ann Intensive Care. Published 5 July 2024. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →