In a cross-sectional study of 391 COPD patients and 184 non-COPD subjects, we recorded lung function, blood gas values, exercise capacity, air travel habits and in-flight symptoms.
Fifty-four percent of the COPD patients had travelled by air the last two years. Hypoxia-related symptoms during air travel were experienced in 25 % of the COPD patients and 9 % of the non-COPD subjects (p < 0.001). After adjusting for smoking status, age and gender, the odds ratio for COPD patients to experience dyspnea or air hunger was 6.6 (95 % CI 2.5–17.3, p < 0.001) compared to non-COPD subjects. In the COPD patients, in-flight dyspnea or air hunger was strongly associated with pre-flight score on the Medical Research Council (MRC) Dyspnea scale (p < 0.001).
COPD patients had significantly increased risk of in-flight dyspnea or air hunger compared to non-COPD subjects. In COPD patients these symptoms were strongly associated with pre-flight MRC Dyspnea score.