The Physiotherapy Assessment of Breathing Pattern Disorder

NCT07543588 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 315897
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 150
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to evaluate a clinical tool called the Breathing Pattern Assessment Tool (BPAT), which is used by physiotherapists to assess breathing pattern disorder (BPD). BPD is a condition where breathing is inefficient or out of sync with the body's needs, leading to symptoms such as breathlessness. The study will investigate whether the BPAT is a reliable and accurate way to identify and assess BPD, and whether it can be used to monitor changes over time, particularly following physiotherapy treatment. It will also compare BPAT scores with other commonly used questionnaires that measure breathlessness and breathing symptoms. Participants will include patients with BPD, patients with asthma, and healthy individuals. Patients with BPD will attend physiotherapy sessions as part of their usual care, during which their breathing will be assessed using the BPAT at different time points, including before and after treatment. Healthy participants will attend a single assessment visit, and asthma participants' data will be collected from routine clinical care. The study will also explore whether BPAT scores change following treatment and whether these changes reflect improvements reported by patients and clinicians. In addition, a small number of patients and physiotherapists will be invited to take part in interviews to share their experiences of the assessment process and treatment. This will help understand whether the BPAT is acceptable and useful in clinical practice. Overall, this study aims to improve how breathing pattern disorder is assessed and monitored, which may help guide better treatment for patients in the future.

Conditions

Breathlessness; Breathing Pattern Disorder

Keywords

Breathlessness; Breathing Pattern Disorder; Physiotherapy; Assessment

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Breathing Pattern Assessment Tool BPAT

  The Breathing Pattern Assessment Tool (BPAT) is a clinician-completed assessment of breathing pattern. Assessment components include (i) evaluation of chest/abdominal wall movement, noise of (ii) inspiratory and (iii) expiratory flow, (iv) channel of inspiration and expiration, (v) signs of air hunger (yawning, sighing and deeper breaths), (vi) RR and (vii) rhythm. Each component is scored from 0 (normal) to 2 (severely abnormal), with a total score ranging from 0 to 14. Higher scores indicate greater deviation from normal breathing patterns. Changes in score over time reflect changes in breathing pattern.

  Baseline for all participants; 4 weeks and through study completion (up to 6 months) for participants with Breathing Pattern Disorder

Secondary Outcomes (7)

• Nijmegen Questionnaire

  Baseline for all participants; and through study completion (up to 6 months) for participants with Breathing Pattern Disorder

• Dyspnoea 12 (D-12) Questionnaire

  Baseline for all participants; and through study completion (up to 6 months) for participants with Breathing Pattern Disorder

• EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level Questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L)

  Baseline for all participants; and through study completion (up to 6 months) for participants with Breathing Pattern Disorder

• Breath Hold

  Baseline for all participants; and through study completion (up to 6 months) for participants with Breathing Pattern Disorder

• End Tidal C02

  Baseline for all participants; and through study completion (up to 6 months) for participants with Breathing Pattern Disorder

Study Arms (3)

Breathing Pattern Disorder

Patients referred to physiotherapy with a Breathing Pattern Disorder

Diagnostic Test: Assessment of Breathing Pattern- Breathing Pattern Assessment Tool

Healthy Control

Patients with no respiratory symptoms or disorders

Diagnostic Test: Assessment of Breathing Pattern- Breathing Pattern Assessment Tool

Asthma

Patients diagnosed with asthma but no concerns for breathing pattern disorder

Diagnostic Test: Assessment of Breathing Pattern- Breathing Pattern Assessment Tool

Interventions

Assessment of Breathing Pattern- Breathing Pattern Assessment Tool DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Patients who have Breathing Pattern Disorder will be assessed with the Breathing Pattern Assessment Tool and then will undergo Physiotherapy intervention. This includes up to 4 sessions of physiotherapy treatments which include biomechanical, biochemical and psychopathological interventions for breathing pattern

Asthma; Breathing Pattern Disorder; Healthy Control

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients with BPD (n=100) A convenience sample of patients referred to physiotherapy outpatient services of Royal Brompton Hospitals for BPD or unexplained breathlessness, over a 22-month recruitment period will be recruited. Healthy control (n=25) A convenience sample of healthy controls will be recruited from relative/significant other accompanying the study participant and/or hospital staff. Asthma control patients (n=25) Patients will be recruited from the Systematic Assessment of Asthma Clinic and data used from their completed usual care assessment.

You may qualify if:

• Adults aged above 18 years
• Outpatient referrals for 'unexplained breathlessness' or possible breathing pattern disorder
• Primary BPD (no other significant respiratory or cardiology diagnosis)
• Secondary BPD (patients with a diagnosis of asthma)

You may not qualify if:

• Patients with a respiratory diagnosis including COPD, ILD, Bronchiectasis and Cystic Fibrosis or structural heart disease
• Pregnancy
• Unable to give informed consent
• Anyone currently participating in pulmonary/cardiac rehabilitation
• Anyone receiving specialist ENT speech and language therapy for Upper airway symptoms

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust: lead

Study Sites (1)

Royal Brompton Hospital

London, London, SW3 6NP, United Kingdom

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Dyspnea

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Respiration Disorders; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Signs and Symptoms, Respiratory; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Lizzie JF Grillo, BSc MSc

  Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospital

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Lizzie Grillo JF Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist, BSc MSc

CONTACT

07843203979; lizzie.grillo1@nhs.net

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE CONTROL
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Advanced Physiotherapist

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 11, 2026
• First Posted: April 22, 2026
• Study Start: December 10, 2024
• Primary Completion: May 1, 2026
• Study Completion: May 1, 2026
• Last Updated: May 5, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP
• Time Frame: Start: 6 months after publication of primary results. End: Indefinitely
• Access Criteria: Qualified researchers may request access to de-identified individual participant data. Requests will be reviewed by the study investigators. Approved data will be shared via a secure online repository or by direct data transfer. Data will be limited to de-identified datasets necessary to reproduce the reported analyses.

Locations

GB (1)