Dyspnea represents one of the most frequent cardinal symptoms in general practice and interdisciplinary emergency care across all sectors. Due to its subjective character, dyspnea is described by patients in many different ways, including "shortness of breath, difficulty of breathing, feeling of chest tightness, etc". The spectrum of differential diagnoses is broad, including in particular pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases. In addition to an evaluation of severity and an assessment of temporal, situation-related, and causal classification criteria, a structured process of multiple diagnostic steps in both primary and emergency care is a prerequisite for fast and correct diagnosis. In this context, it is of crucial importance to identify life-threatening diseases according to defined criteria and thus initiate adequate emergency measures. Further treatment options at the interface between primary and clinical care can be based on the German Appropriate Evaluation Protocol (G-AEP) criteria.
Keywords: Diagnosis, differential; Dyspnea, acute; Dyspnea, chronic; Emergency care; Primary health care.