CASE STUDY:
70-Year-Old White Male with Shortness of Breath with Exertion

CLINICAL INFORMATION

CHIEF COMPLAINT

Shortness of breath with exertion beginning on 12/03.

HISTORY OF PRESENT MEDICAL ILLNESS

Patient is a 70-year-old white male reporting that he first began to notice shortness of breath with exertion in 12/03. The symptom persisted and progressed over the subsequent months, prompting him to seek medical attention.

He was initially treated empirically with metered-dose inhalers, followed by nebulizers, but failed to respond. On follow-up evaluation he was found to be hypoxic on room air and was placed on supplemental oxygen at 3 L/min. Currently he is short of breath (SOB) with routine activities, such as dressing, bathing, and grooming. The patient admitted to having a nonproductive cough for 4 years. He has occasional audible wheeze. He denied hemoptysis, chest pain, pleurisy, fever, chills, or night sweats. He stated that his weight has been stable for the past year and his appetite is fair.