Dyspnoea

Question 1

Definition

Answer 1

Subjective sensation of uncomfortable breathing (Breathlessness/ shortness of breath)

It is a symptom of a disease (rather than a disease itself)

Question 2

Aetiology/ causes
(RESP, CV, NEUROMUSCULAR, PSYCHOGENIC)

Answer 2

Respiratory - asthma, acute exacerbation of or chronic congestive obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), pneumonia, pulmonary Embolism, lung malignancy, pneumothorax, or aspiration.

Cardiovascular - congestive heart failure, pulmonary oedema, acute coronary syndrome, pericardial tamponade, valvular heart defect, pulmonary hypertension, cardiac arrhythmia, or intracardiac shunting.

Neuromuscular - chest trauma with fracture or flail chest, massive obesity, kyphoscoliosis, central nervous system (CNS) or spinal cord dysfunction, phrenic nerve paralysis, myopathy, and neuropathy.

Psychogenic - hyperventilation syndrome, psychogenic dyspnea, vocal cord dysfunction syndrome, and foreign body aspiration

Question 3

Risk factors

Answer 3

Highly variable depending on aetiology

Question 4

Epidemiology/ Population affected

Answer 4

Highly variable depending on aetiology

Question 5

Clinical presentation

Answer 5

Shortness of breath (dyspnea)

Question 6

Prognosis

Answer 6

Highly variable depending on aetiology

Question 7

DDX
(Aute/ chronic causative conditions)

Answer 7

Acute dyspnoea is most likely caused by acute myocardial ischaemia, heart failure, cardiac tamponade, bronchospasm, pulmonary embolism, pneumothorax, pulmonary infection in the form of bronchitis or pneumonia, or upper airway obstruction by aspiration or anaphylaxis.

Chronic dyspnoea is most likely caused by asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Interstitial lung disease, myocardial dysfunction, obesity, or deconditioning