Lifting dyspnoea invisibility: COVID-19 face masks, the experience of breathing discomfort, and improved lung health perception – a French nationwide survey. Issue 3 (31st March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Serresse, Laure; Simon-Tillaux, Noémie; Decavèle, Maxens; Gay, Frederick; Nion, Nathalie; Lavault, Sophie; Guerder, Antoine; Châtelet, Antoine; Dabi, Frédéric; Demoule, Alexandre; Morélot-Panzini, Capucine; Moricot, Caroline; Similowski, Thomas
• Is Part Of: European respiratory journal. Volume 59:Issue 3(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-03-31
• Subjects: Respiratory organs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Respiration -- Periodicals; 616.2
• DOI: 10.1183/13993003.01459-2021
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0903-1936

Abstract

Question addressed: In contrast with pain, dyspnoea is not visible to the general public, who lack the corresponding experiential baggage. We tested the hypothesis that the generalised use of face masks to fight severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 dissemination could change this and sensitise people to respiratory health. Methods: General population polling (1012-person panel demographically representative of the adult French population, quota sampling method; 517 (51%) female). 860 (85%) answered "no" to "treated for a chronic respiratory disease" ("respiratory healthy"), and 152 answered "yes" ("respiratory disease"). 14% of respiratory healthy respondents reported having a close family member treated for a chronic respiratory disease (RH-family + ). Respondents described mask-related attitudes, beliefs, inconveniencies, dyspnoea and changes in their respiratory health vision . Results: Compliance with masks was high (94.7%). Dyspnoea ranked first among mask inconveniencies (respiratory disease 79.3%, respiratory healthy 67.3%; p=0.013). "Air hunger" was the main sensory dyspnoea descriptor. Mask-related dyspnoea was independently associated with belonging to RH-family + (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.16–2.98) and removing masks to improve breathing (OR 5.21, 95% CI 3.73–7.28). It was negatively associated with considering masks effective to protect others (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.25–0.75). Half the respondents were more concerned with their respiratory health since wearing masks; 41% reported better understanding patients' experiences. Answer to the question: Wearing protective face masks leads to the mass discovery of breathing discomfort. It raises public awareness of what respiratory diseases involve and sensitivity to the importance of breathing. These data should be used as the fulcrum of respiratory health oriented communication actions. Wearing COVID-19 face masks has resulted in the discovery of dyspnoea by the general public and heightened concern for respiratory health. This provides the respiratory community with a major communication opportunity. https://bit.ly/3yKPnGD