PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Vipa Bernhardt AU - Tony G. Babb TI - Exertional dyspnoea in obesity AID - 10.1183/16000617.0081-2016 DP - 2016 Dec 01 TA - European Respiratory Review PG - 487--495 VI - 25 IP - 142 4099 - http://err.ersjournals.com/content/25/142/487.short 4100 - http://err.ersjournals.com/content/25/142/487.full SO - EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY REVIEW2016 Dec 01; 25 AB - The purpose of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in the obese person, as in any cardiopulmonary exercise test, is to determine the patient's exercise tolerance, and to help identify and/or distinguish between the various physiological factors that could contribute to exercise intolerance. Unexplained dyspnoea on exertion is a common reason for CPET, but it is an extremely complex symptom to explain. Sometimes obesity is the simple answer by elimination of other possibilities. Thus, distinguishing among multiple clinical causes for exertional dyspnoea depends on the ability to eliminate possibilities while recognising response patterns that are unique to the obese patient. This includes the otherwise healthy obese patient, as well as the obese patient with potentially multiple cardiopulmonary limitations. Despite obvious limitations in lung function, metabolic disease and/or cardiovascular dysfunction, obesity may be the most likely reason for exertional dyspnoea. In this article, we will review the more common cardiopulmonary responses to exercise in the otherwise healthy obese adult with special emphasis on dyspnoea on exertion.Obesity alone and/or as a confounding factor may contribute to DOE requiring careful assessment during CPET http://ow.ly/Secp305mId2