Dyspnea Tipsheet: M1400
🎯Purpose:
This tool can be used to aid in the interpretation and coding of this OASIS item. Review the General Instructions and the CMS instructions for each answer.
(M1400) Dyspnea: When is the patient dyspneic or noticeably short of breath:
|
ANSWER |
M1400: Dyspnea Description | CMS INSTRUCTIONS |
|---|---|---|
|
0 |
*Patient is NOT short of breath |
*Does not shows signs of short of breath/dyspnea with ANY activity on the day of the assessment. *Does not complain of being short of breath/dyspneic |
|
1 |
*When walking more than 20 feet, climbing stairs |
*Experiences dyspnea with significant effort *Examples listed are only examples that may apply, still need to use clinical judgment *If walking less than 20 feet and experiences dyspnea, continue down the responses *Demanding bed-mobility activities produce dyspnea in the bedbound client *Physically demanding transfer activities produce dyspnea in the chairfast client |
|
2 |
*With moderate exertion (for example: while dressing, using a commode or bedpan, walking distances less than 20 feet) |
*Experiences dyspnea with moderate effort *Examples listed are only examples that may apply, still need to use clinical judgment *Refer to the amount of effort needed and not only the examples *Examples: dressing, using commode/bedpan, walking distances less than 20 feet. |
|
3 |
With minimal exertion (for example: while eating, talking, or performing other ADL's or with agitation) |
*Experiences dyspnea with minimal effort *Examples listed are only examples that may apply, still need to use clinical judgment *May include other examples if become dyspneic with minimal effort activity such as only putting arm into a sleeve of shirt or bending over to tie shoes (dressing). Refer to the amount of effort needed |
|
4 |
*At rest (day and night) | *May include positional dyspnea, even if not dyspneic when not supine. |
General Instructions:
- Observe the client during mobility and all other interactions.
- Does not need to be panting to be considered SOB
- Need to get the client up and moving to observe dyspnea versus taking the client’s word for it.
- If the client uses oxygen continuously, code the response based on assessment of the client’s shortness of breath while using oxygen.
- If the client uses oxygen intermittently, code the response based on the client’s shortness of breath without the use of oxygen.
- Responses are based on the client’s actual use of oxygen in the home, not on the physician’s oxygen order.
- Dash is not a valid response for this item.
- REMINDER: The item should be scored PRIOR to intervention provided
📅 Effective: 7/7/2026 |  🛠️ Revised: 7/7/26 |  ✅ Approved: JM