Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale (mMRC)
Measures the severity of breathlessness and its impact on daily activities in patients with respiratory diseases.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale (mMRC) was developed by Bestall JC (1999). It is designed to measure Dyspnea. The scale is intended for use with Adults and elderly patients with respiratory diseases (e.g., COPD).
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 5 items.
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = Does not apply to me, 1 = Applies to me.
Scoring
Items are summed.
Total scores range from 0 to 4. Interpretation guidelines:
- Grade 0: Dyspnea only with strenuous exercise: 0 – 0
- Grade 1: Dyspnea when hurrying or walking up a slight hill: 1 – 1
- Grade 2: Walks slower than peers or stops for breath at own pace: 2 – 2
- Grade 3: Stops for breath after walking 100 meters or a few minutes: 3 – 3
- Grade 4: Too breathless to leave the house or during dressing/undressing: 4 – 4
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 2 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.