The Importance of Respiratory Rate Monitoring: From Healthcare to Sport and Exercise

Overview

Journal Sensors (Basel)

Publisher MDPI

Specialty Biotechnology

Date 2020 Nov 13

PMID 33182463

Citations 94

Authors

Andrea Nicolo

Carlo Massaroni

Emiliano Schena

Massimo Sacchetti

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Respiratory rate is a fundamental vital sign that is sensitive to different pathological conditions (e.g., adverse cardiac events, pneumonia, and clinical deterioration) and stressors, including emotional stress, cognitive load, heat, cold, physical effort, and exercise-induced fatigue. The sensitivity of respiratory rate to these conditions is superior compared to that of most of the other vital signs, and the abundance of suitable technological solutions measuring respiratory rate has important implications for healthcare, occupational settings, and sport. However, respiratory rate is still too often not routinely monitored in these fields of use. This review presents a multidisciplinary approach to respiratory monitoring, with the aim to improve the development and efficacy of respiratory monitoring services. We have identified thirteen monitoring goals where the use of the respiratory rate is invaluable, and for each of them we have described suitable sensors and techniques to monitor respiratory rate in specific measurement scenarios. We have also provided a physiological rationale corroborating the importance of respiratory rate monitoring and an original multidisciplinary framework for the development of respiratory monitoring services. This review is expected to advance the field of respiratory monitoring and favor synergies between different disciplines to accomplish this goal.

Citing Articles

Respiratory rate and its associations with disease and lifestyle factors in the general population - results from the KORA-FF4 study.

Ruckert-Eheberg I, Steger A, Muller A, Linkohr B, Barthel P, Maier M PLoS One. 2025; 20(3):e0318502.

PMID: 40067853 PMC: 11896064. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0318502.

Parallel Datasets for Classification of Respiratory Rhythm Phases.

Szymanski J, Szefler M, Karski K, Krawczak F, Jankowski D Sci Data. 2025; 12(1):346.

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RGB-based machine vision for enhanced pig disease symptoms monitoring and health management: a review.

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Fractal correlation properties of heart rate variability and respiratory frequency as measures of endurance exercise durability.

Rogers B, Fleitas-Paniagua P, Trpcic M, Zagatto A, Murias J Eur J Appl Physiol. 2025; .

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Correlation properties and respiratory frequency of ECG-derived heart rate variability during multiple race-pace running intervals in female and male long-distance runners.

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