Associations between underlying conditions and breathlessness
| Factor | mMRC ≥1 versus 0 | |
| Crude OR (95% CI) | Adjusted OR (95% CI)* | |
| Respiratory disease | 2.5 (1.6 to 3.7) | 2.0 (1.3 to 3.2) |
| Chronic airflow limitation (FEV1 <LLN) | 2.4 (1.4 to 3.9) | 1.8 (1.0 to 3.1) |
| Asthma | 4.0 (2.4 to 6.6) | 3.0 (1.7 to 5.2) |
| COPD | 10.1 (4.4 to 23.2) | 7.4 (3.0 to 18.5) |
| Chronic bronchitis | 3.8 (2.2 to 6.5) | 3.6 (2.0 to 6.6) |
| Heart disease or chest pain | 8.3 (5.1 to 13.5) | 6.9 (4.0 to 11.9) |
| Angina pectoris | 10.4 (6.1 to 17.8) | 9.3 (5.1 to 17.2) |
| Heart failure | 7.7 (2.0 to 29.0) | 6.6 (1.3 to 33.3) |
| Anxiety or depression | 3.5 (2.4 to 5.3) | 3.3 (2.1 to 5.1) |
| Anxiety | 2.4 (1.6 to 3.7) | 2.2 (1.4 to 3.5) |
| Depression | 4.3 (2.7 to 7.0) | 3.3 (2.0 to 5.4) |
| Other | ||
| Obesity† | 3.1 (2.0 to 4.7) | 2.7 (1.8 to 4.2) |
OR and 95% CIs.
Analysed as separate variables.
*Adjusted for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), socioeconomic status and smoking status, as applicable. Obesity=BMI >30; BMI <30 is the reference value.
†Not adjusted for BMI.
COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; FEV1, forced expiratory volume for 1 s; LLN, lower limit of normal; mMRC, modified Medical Research Council.