A recent study conducted by researchers at Harvard Medical School highlights that hospitalized patients experiencing breathing discomfort—known medically as dyspnoea—face a dramatically increased risk of death. Patients reporting this symptom upon admission or during their hospital stay were found to be up to six times more likely to die than those without breathing difficulties.
Dyspnoea, characterized by shortness of breath or distressed breathing, affects about one in ten hospital admissions. The study, published in ERJ Open Research and led by Associate Professor Robert Banzett from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, assessed nearly 10,000 patients who rated their dyspnoea on a 0 to 10 scale twice daily, akin to existing pain assessments.
The findings revealed a stark contrast between pain and breathing discomfort: while pain levels showed no correlation with mortality risk, higher dyspnoea ratings significantly predicted poorer outcomes. Notably, 25% of patients still experiencing shortness of breath at rest upon discharge died within six months.
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Professor Banzett emphasized the importance of incorporating dyspnoea assessments into routine hospital care. “Although dyspnoea is a distressing symptom, it’s not a death sentence,” he said. “Most patients survive hospitalization, but identifying those at higher risk through a simple, quick, and cost-effective measure can enable personalized care and improve management of this frightening symptom.”
Currently, pain is regularly evaluated during hospital stays, but dyspnoea often goes under-recognized despite its clear impact on patient prognosis. The researchers advocate that routinely asking patients to rate their breathing discomfort could lead to better clinical decision-making and targeted treatments, ultimately improving survival rates and patient well-being.