Breathlessness in the emergency care setting

Johnson, Miriam J.; Hutchinson, Ann

Abstract

Abstract
Purpose of review
Breathlessness is one of the most common reasons for presentation at the emergency department (ED). The present review summarizes work published from 2017, which focuses on the symptom of breathlessness in its own right rather than as a signpost to diagnosis in relation to presentation to the ED.

Recent findings
Seven relevant papers are included in the present review. Five describe the epidemiology of breathlessness presentation showing: a prevalence of approximately 5% all ED presentations, a high likelihood of hospital admission especially for those with heart failure, breathlessness as a predictor of re-presentation. A sixth study described self-management strategies for breathlessness crises used by expert patients in successfully avoiding presentations to the ED. The seventh study reported the validation of the shorter dyspnea severity scale for use in the ED using a mixture of symptom report and clinical observation measures.

Summary
Breathlessness is a common presenting feature in the ED and carries clinical outcome significance irrespective of the causative disease. Routine enquiry is needed to identify, assess, and manage breathlessness alongside interventions to stabilize underlying reversible pathologies. Presentation to the ED because of breathlessness should trigger community-based, supported self-management for future episodes of breathlessness crises.

Citation

Johnson, M. J., & Hutchinson, A. (2018). Breathlessness in the emergency care setting. Current opinion in supportive and palliative care, 12(3), 232-236. https://doi.org/10.1097/SPC.0000000000000374

• Journal Article Type: Review
• Acceptance Date: Jun 25, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Sep 1, 2018
• Publication Date: Sep 1, 2018
• Deposit Date: Jun 25, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 2, 2019
• Print ISSN: 1751-4258
• Publisher: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 12
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 232-236
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/SPC.0000000000000374
• Keywords: Respiratory problems
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/893308
• Publisher URL: https://journals.lww.com/co-supportiveandpalliativecare/Abstract/2018/09000/Breathlessness_in_the_emergency_care_setting.6.aspx
• Contract Date: Jun 25, 2018