Underlying conditions contributing to breathlessness in the population

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Assessment of underlying conditions that contribute to breathlessness is fundamental for symptom management. This review aims to summarize the knowledge from the past two years on the most common underlying conditions among individuals with breathlessness in the general population and to identify research gaps. RECENT FINDINGS: Nine studies from the last two years were included in the review; two studies systematically assessed underlying conditions among breathless individuals in the general population. The modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) scale was used in eight of nine studies. Respiratory diseases were the main underlying condition (40–57%), of which asthma was the most common (approx. 25%), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was particularly strongly associated with breathlessness. Other conditions prevalent among breathless individuals included heart diseases, anxiety, depression, and obesity, and several conditions often co-existed. SUMMARY: Breathlessness in the general population is common and associated with several underlying conditions. Respiratory disease is the most commonly reported underlying condition. Refined methods such as machine learning could be useful to study the complex interplay between multiple underlying causes of breathlessness and impact on outcomes such as quality of life and survival.