Diagnosing Dyspneic Older Adult Emergency Department Patients: A Pilot Study.
Katherine M HunoldAndrew L SchwadererMatthew ExlineCourtney L HebertBrent C LampertLauren T SoutherlandJulie A StephensJason J BischofJeffrey M CaterinoPublished in: Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (2020)
Dyspnea is the second leading cause of US emergency department (ED) visits and an independent predictor of morbidity and mortality1 in older adult patients aged ≥65 years. Unfortunately, the diagnosis of the cause of dyspnea presents diagnostic challenges to emergency physicians2-4 that disproportionately affects older adults.5 One in 5 dyspneic older adults experience missed diagnosis in the ED2 and 21% are treated for ≥1 pneumonia, acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], and acute exacerbation of heart failure [HF].5 Importantly, some may have multiple causes of their dyspnea but accurate diagnosis remains critical.
Keyphrases
- emergency department
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- respiratory failure
- physical activity
- heart failure
- liver failure
- end stage renal disease
- newly diagnosed
- middle aged
- chronic kidney disease
- peritoneal dialysis
- extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
- public health
- healthcare
- drug induced
- high resolution
- advanced cancer
- lung function
- acute heart failure
- adverse drug
- hepatitis b virus
- mechanical ventilation
- air pollution
- cystic fibrosis
- electronic health record
- community acquired pneumonia