[Dyspnea as a presenting symptom in the emergency department - From triage through rational diagnosis to evidence-based patient pathways].

Accounting for 4-8% of all patients in emergency departments, dyspnea is one of the most common presenting symptoms 11 22. Its clinical significance is reflected in the high rate of admission to the intensive care unit (16-18%) 11 and an in-hospital mortality rate of approximately 9% 22. The concurrent presence of multiple organ pathologies often poses a diagnostic challenge 33. This article translates the current evidence from 2025/2026 into action-oriented strategies: from pathophysiology and AI-supported triage to critical airway management and the discussion of specialized dyspnea units 44.