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Diagnostic Algorithm
Following the diagnostic algorithm for dyspnoea
Patients with unexplained dyspnoea (breathlessness), for which common causes have been excluded, may be at risk of having PAH and should have their symptoms investigated until a cause is found.1
Due to the high prevalence of dyspnoea in primary and tertiary care and the large number of possible diagnoses, it can be easy to arrive at common conclusions for the source of dyspnoea without fully exhausting the diagnostic algorithm.1–3 However, it’s important to see a diagnosis through to avoid misdiagnosing rarer diseases.
Up to 50% of patients admitted to acute, tertiary care hospitals are affected by dyspnoea3
Pulmonary hypertension, in particular, appears low down on the list of likely causes of dyspnoea, and is often missed by physicians for many years before a correct diagnosis is made.1,4
Diagnostic algorithm for patients with dyspnoea

Diagnostic algorithm for dyspnoea
Adapted from Karnani NG, et al. 2005.1
Assess Suspected PAH with PH Connect
PH Connect is an online tool designed to support Australian healthcare professionals in referring suspected PAH patients to PAH expert centres for diagnosis and treatment. If you have a patient with unexplained dyspnoea or other symptoms that may be indicative of PAH, you can use PH Connect to help build a case for referral to a PAH Designated Centre or gather information that can be helpful in a consultation with a PAH Expert.
PH Connect consists of a short questionnaire designed to help raise the suspicion of PAH. The questionnaire is based on the 2015 ESC/ERS Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary hypertension and the updated guidance from the World Symposium on Pulmonary Hypertension 2018, available here:
- Galiè N, et al. Eur Heart J 2016; 37:67-119
- Morrell NW, et al. Eur Respir J 2018; in press
- Simonneau G, et al. Eur Respir J 2019; 53: 1801913.