Acute-on-chronic breathlessness: recognition and response

What is it about?

Despite the large body of evidence on the experience of people living with chronic breathlessness, clinicians still struggle with its recognition and assessment. Even when recognised, the symptom is undertreated and is experienced by people over many years and is associated with repeated unplanned presentations to health services.

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Why is it important?

If a patient presents with acute breathlessness, there is now a responsibility for clinicians to determine whether this is an isolated episode of acute breathlessness or a presentation of acute-on-chronic breathlessness and then assess how the acute-on-chronic breathlessness is affecting them and those who care for them and offer tailored support and breathlessness management.