{"id":20835,"date":"2026-07-31T10:33:24","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T10:33:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/woncaeurope2026.org\/sessions\/prevalence-assessment-of-hyperventilation-syndrome-hvs-in-chronic-pain\/"},"modified":"2026-07-31T10:33:24","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T10:33:24","slug":"prevalence-assessment-of-hyperventilation-syndrome-hvs-in-chronic-pain","status":"publish","type":"wsa_session","link":"https:\/\/woncaeurope2026.org\/fr\/sessions\/prevalence-assessment-of-hyperventilation-syndrome-hvs-in-chronic-pain\/","title":{"rendered":"Prevalence Assessment of Hyperventilation Syndrome (HVS) in Chronic Pain"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Hyperventilation syndrome (HVS) appears to be overrepresented among patients with chronic pain. Several pathophysiological mechanisms may contribute to maintaining pain in these individuals. However, existing studies show considerable heterogeneity regarding patient populations and screening methods.The primary objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of HVS among patients attending the Pain Evaluation and Treatment Center at XXX University Hospital, using the Nijmegen Questionnaire. Secondary objectives were to identify associated factors and to explore correlations with anxiety\u2013depression symptoms and fibromyalgia severity.We conducted a retrospective, descriptive, observational study including all first-time patients seen at the Pain Evaluation and Treatment Center of Sud R\u00e9union University Hospital between October 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025.A total of 121 patients were included. HVS screening was positive in 81% of cases. All patients with nociplastic pain (fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndromes) screened positive for HVS (p &lt; 0.0001). Female patients were significantly more likely to have a positive HVS screening result (p &lt; 0.01). The Nijmegen score was positively and significantly correlated with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) Scale-anxiety score (p &lt; 0.001), the HAD Scale-depression score (p &lt; 0,01) and the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) fibromyalgia severity score (p = 0.009).HVS appears highly prevalent in chronic pain compared with the general population, particularly in cases of nociplastic pain.\u00a0Research in fibromyalgia proposes a link between impaired tissue oxygenation and chronic pain. Hypocapnia, consequence of HVS, reduces tissue oxygenation through the Bohr effect and vasoconstriction. In conditions involving central sensitization, the NMDA receptor becomes increasingly responsive to glutamate. Studies suggest elevated glutamate concentrations in the brains of individuals with fibromyalgia. Because poor tissue oxygenation can lead to excessive glutamate accumulation, this supports the hypothesis connecting tissue hypoxia with neuromuscular hyperexcitability. Taken together, these findings suggest a potential vicious cycle between chronic hyperventilation syndrome and nociplastic painHVS is a frequent comorbidity among patients with chronic pain, particularly those with nociplastic pain, suggesting its potential involvement in the sensitization of pain pathways<\/p>\n","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-20835","wsa_session","type-wsa_session","status-publish","hentry","description-off"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/woncaeurope2026.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wsa_session\/20835","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/woncaeurope2026.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wsa_session"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/woncaeurope2026.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/wsa_session"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/woncaeurope2026.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20835"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}