aetiology of acute breathlessness

Last reviewed 01/2018

Acute causes include:

• lung disease
  • upper airway obstruction - acute epiglottitis, foreign body aspiration, laringospasm
  • acute asthma, acute exacerbation of COPD
  • pneumonia
  • pulmonary embolism
  • pleural disease - pneumothorax, pleural effusion
  • bronchilitis
• cardiac disease
  • congestive heart failure
  • arrhythmia
  • ischemic heart disease
  • valvular diseases
• other causes
  • metabolic causes - diabetic ketoacidosis, aspirin intoxication
  • anaemia
  • psychogenic - anxiety, depression (1,2)

Reference:

• 1. Zoorob RJ, Campbell JS. Acute dyspnea in the office. Am Fam Physician. 2003;68(9):1803-10
• 2. Lighezan DF et al. Acute dyspnea: from pathophysiology, evaluation to diagnosis. TMJ 2006;56(2-3)