Dyspnea, Pulmonary Rehabilitation, and Supplemental Oxygen Therapy in Older Adults

Dyspnea, or shortness of breath, is a subjective and often distressing symptom common among older adults. It can stem from various physiologic, psychological, or environmental factors and often does not correlate with objective measures like oxygen saturation. Chronic dyspnea significantly impacts quality of life, often leading to reduced activity, deconditioning, and functional decline. Despite its prevalence, it is frequently underrecognized, especially in outpatient settings. A thorough patient history and physical examination are essential for diagnosis, followed by selective testing based on likely causes. Acute dyspnea warrants urgent evaluation due to potentially life-threatening etiologies such as pulmonary embolism or cardiac events. Management of dyspnea is dictated primarily by addressing the underlying cause. Pulmonary rehabilitation improves dyspnea and physical function for older adults, and continuous supplemental oxygen can be benefical to chronically hypoxic adults.