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Breathlessness (P)
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1. Which of the following is NOT a common cause of acute breathlessness in adults?
*
Pulmonary embolism
Pneumonia
Heart failure
Hypothyroidism
2. Which clinical feature would raise suspicion of pulmonary embolism in a breathless patient?
*
Gradual onset over months
Pleuritic chest pain and haemoptysis
Bradycardia and hypotension
Improvement with rest
3. What test is most useful in confirming a diagnosis of heart failure in primary care?
*
Chest X-ray
NT-proBNP
ECG
CRP
4. What is the normal respiratory rate for a healthy adult?
*
8–10 breaths/min
12–20 breaths/min
22–28 breaths/min
30–40 breaths/min
5. Which of the following is most suggestive of asthma?
*
Persistent cough with clear sputum
Progressive breathlessness with orthopnoea
Intermittent wheeze triggered by allergens
Haemoptysis and weight loss
6. Which tool is recommended by NICE for assessing breathlessness severity in chronic conditions?
*
PHQ-9
MRC Dyspnoea Scale
Well Score
PERC Score
7. What investigation is recommended for suspected COPD in a patient with chronic breathlessness?
*
Spirometry
Echocardiogram
D-dimer
CT-Chest
8. Which red flag symptom associated with breathlessness warrants urgent referral?
*
Noisy breathing
Mild wheeze on exertion
Haemoptysis
Occasional chest tightness
9. What is orthopnoea?
*
Shortness of breath when standing
Breathlessness relieved by lying down
Waking up at night due to breathlessness
Breathlessness on lying flat
10. Which test helps differentiate between cardiac and respiratory causes of dyspnoea?
*
FBC
BNP
Urinalysis
Sputum culture
11. Which is NOT a PERC rule criteria?
*
HR ≥100
Age ≥50
Hormone use
Smoked at any time
12. Which of the following is a functional cause of breathlessness?
*
Panic disorder
Asthma
Heart failure
Pneumothorax
13. Which symptom would suggest chronic breathlessness is due to COPD rather than asthma?
*
Onset in childhood
Diurnal variation
Persistent symptoms and smoking history
Trigger by allergens
14. When should you consider oxygen saturation monitoring for breathlessness assessment?
*
Patients with suspected hypoxaemia
All patients with anxiety
Only in hospital
In children only
15. Which of the following breath sounds are commonly associated with bronchoconstriction?
*
Wheezes
Crackles
Stridor
Rhonchi
16. What does the presence of basal crepitations in a breathless patient suggest?
*
Upper airway obstruction
Pulmonary oedema or fibrosis
Normal lung exam
Asthma
17. Which of these would be least useful in assessing a patient with acute breathlessness in primary care?
*
Peak flow
Oximetry
Spirometry
ECG
18. Which of the following would suggest a cardiac origin of breathlessness?
*
Wheeze
Productive cough
Peripheral oedema
Clear chest X-ray
19. Which parameter is measured with a peak flow meter?
*
Oxygen saturation
Tidal volume
Residual volume
Peak expiratory flow rate
20. Which of these symptoms suggests a life-threatening cause of breathlessness?
*
Gradual onset wheeze
Sudden pleuritic chest pain and breathlessness
Fatigue with mild SOB
Dry cough with exertion