The Breathe-VQ in MSK Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Breathing vigilance and breathing pattern disorder in patients with chronic musculoskeletal conditions: The Breathe-VQ in MSK study
IRAS ID
321476
Contact name
Elmar Kal
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Brunel University London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
42524-NHS-Dec/2023- 48773-4, Institutional Ethical approval reference
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 10 months, 1 days
Research summary
In the United Kingdom (UK), around 20.3 million people live with a Musculoskeletal (MSK) condition involving the joints muscles and bones, such as arthritis and low back pain. Pain is the main symptom of MSK conditions, where many people report ‘chronic pain’ (lasting longer than three months).While chronic MSK pain impacts the ability to move and carry out every day tasks, many people with MSK conditions also experience symptoms of anxiety and depression. In addition to the psychological impacts, anxiety and depression have been shown to interfere with breathing, such as causing shortness of breath or ‘dysfunctional breathing’. Dysfunctional breathing can be described as erratic/faulty breathing patterns, increased/decreased respiratory rates and episodic breath holding. As a consequence of these altered breathing patterns, patients often enter a ‘vicious cycle’ of becoming more anxious, which in tern triggers ongoing dysfunctional breathing. Since people with chronic MSK pain are likely to experience anxiety and depression, there is a need to identify the extent of dysfunctional breathing within this population. We therefore aim to determine what proportion of the population with chronic MSK pain also presents with dysfunctional breathing. We will invite 340 patients form a tertiary hospital outpatients department to complete ‘one off’ questionnaires that ask about symptoms of breathing and anxiety and depression. Potential participants will include adults with a diagnosed MSK condition who report chronic pain. Additional information will be extracted from patient notes, such as the MSK diagnosis, other co-existing conditions, and medication.
REC name
London - Brighton & Sussex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/PR/0386
Date of REC Opinion
19 Apr 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion