Observational studyBMJ open2026
Dyspnoea patterns in patients with advanced diseases: a functional MRI feasibility study protocol.
Observational study in BMJ open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT07319039 (Breathlessness Patterns in Patients With Cancer, COPD and Heart Failure), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Breathlessness Patterns in Patients With Cancer, COPD and Heart Failure: an fMRI Feasibility Study
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
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Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
12 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionDyspnoea is an existentially burdensome symptom in patients with advanced and progressive diseases such as cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and advanced heart failure. Recent studies have highlighted that symptomatic treatment of dyspnoea is often ineffective and may depend on the underlying disease. Immersive virtual reality (IVR) has emerged as a 'digital therapeutic' for conditions such as pain, anxiety, and dyspnoea. Brain functional MRI (fMRI) offers the opportunity to identify distinct patterns of dyspnoea. Current findings are mainly limited to healthy volunteers, but clinical data from patients with life-limiting conditions are needed. The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility of identifying dyspnoea patterns in different life-limiting conditions using fMRI and IVR. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is an observational monocentric feasibility study, conducted in a tertiary university centre. Healthy volunteers and patients diagnosed with advanced cancer, COPD, or heart failure and suffering from persistent dyspnoea will undergo an fMRI of the brain using IVR. The primary outcome of feasibility will be evaluated using descriptive statistics. Secondary outcomes include analysis of fMRI patterns of dyspnoea across populations, patient-reported burden of participation, and correlation between dyspnoea and psychological symptoms. These preliminary data will help determine the sample size required for a future study evaluating differences in dyspnoea patterns. Exploratory comparison between the characteristics of all four groups will be assessed with Fisher's test (for proportions) and either independent Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney test, depending on distribution. Correlations between variables will be tested using the Pearson's correlation coefficient. Statistical analysis will be performed using STATA. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study protocol received ethical approval on 23 April 2025 from the TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Clinical Trials number is NCT07319039; Pre-results.
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