Evaluation of exertional dyspnea in the active duty patient: the diagnostic approach and the utility of clinical testing.

Introduction: Minimal information currently exists on how clinicians should approach the evaluation of the young patient with exertional dyspnea. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of specific diseases and the most useful tests to establish the diagnosis in an active duty military population presenting with exertional dyspnea.

Methods: A total of 105 active duty military patients with complaints of exertional dyspnea and 69 active duty military asymptomatic controls were evaluated at a pulmonary disease clinic at an Army tertiary care center.