Shortness of Breath in Hospitalized Patients Linked to 6X Higher Mortality

According to research published in ERJ Open Research on 2025-11-10T10:06:55+00:00, patients who become short of breath after being admitted to the hospital face a six times higher risk of dying compared to those without breathing difficulties. The study, led by Associate Professor Robert Banzett from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, examined data on nearly 10,000 hospitalized adults between March 2014 and September 2016.

The researchers found that patients who reported shortness of breath, or dyspnea, were not only more likely to die during their hospital stay, but also had a higher chance of needing intensive care and rapid response team intervention. In contrast, the study did not find a clear link between patient-reported pain and mortality risk.

Banzett emphasizes that dyspnea is an important warning sign that the body is not getting enough oxygen, which can be an "existential threat." He believes routinely asking patients to rate their breathing discomfort, similar to how they rate pain, could lead to better management of this often-frightening symptom and improved outcomes.

The findings suggest that hospitals should consider implementing simple, quick assessments of patient-reported dyspnea as part of standard care. Experts say this could help identify high-risk individuals and inform more personalized treatment plans, both during the hospital stay and after discharge.