11th January 2024

A 19-year-old gentleman presents to the Emergency Department with sudden onset shortness of breath while studying.

A 19-year-old gentleman presents to the Emergency Department with sudden onset shortness of breath while studying. He is a non-smoker and has no past medical history. He has never had an episode like this before. On examination, he appears short of breath, and his observations are respiratory rate 24 breaths/ min, oxygen saturations 94% on breathing air, HR 101bpm and blood pressure 123/87mmHg. You note a tall, slim build, micrognathia and pectus excavatum. He has reduced air entry on the right side with hyper-resonant percussion. 

Which of the following risk factors has most likely resulted in his presentation? 

Select the SINGLE most appropriate option from the list below. Select ONE option only.