QuestionSBA
QuestionChoice
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a chronic lung condition that develops gradually over the years.

The classic symptoms of COPD include increasing breathlessness, a cough with white or grey sputum that does not get better, frequent chest infections and wheezing.

The biggest risk factor for this is smoking - our patient has been a heavy smoker for 40 years, making it very likely that they have COPD when presenting with shortness of breath.
10001902
a
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
QuestionChoice
Heart failure can cause shortness of breath.

For example, in left-sided heart failure, the heart is unable to pump properly to the rest of the body, leading to a backlog of blood in the pulmonary system. This can cause pulmonary oedema, fluid in the lungs, which would cause shortness of breath.

However, this is associated with sputum that is pink and frothy, and swelling in the ankles, which this patient does not have.
10001903
b
Heart Failure
QuestionChoice
An anaphylactic shock occurs when the body has a severe allergic reaction. The patient deteriorates rapidly as their airways constrict - in some patients their airway completely closes, making them unable to breathe.

The patient is much more likely to have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), in which we see a gradual onset of shortness of breath.
10001906
e
Anaphylactic Shock
QuestionChoice
Pneumonia is an acute, lower respiratory tract infection. Shortness of breath in pneumonia would worsen much more quickly, and you would find associated symptoms indicating infection. These symptoms include fever, fatigue, and coughing up yellow or green sputum, which this patient does not have.

Grey sputum and a gradual onset of shortness of breath are suggestive of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
10001905
d
Pneumonia
QuestionChoice
The patient is complaining of a gradual worsening in shortness of breath - this is more indicative of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) than asthma.

COPD is a chronic condition that usually develops in smokers - another red flag that our patient has - and in older patients. Asthma is usually found in younger patients, usually in children.
10001904
c
Asthma
Concept
Chapter
2693
3717
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Topic
132
Respiratory
12927
A 67-year-old man presents to the Emergency Department with shortness of breath.

Upon questioning, he reveals that this has been gradually getting worse over the past year. He is also coughing up some grey sputum. He has been smoking 20 cigarettes daily for 40 years, drinks one pint of beer a day and has never used recreational drugs.

Which of the following is this patient's most likely diagnosis?
a