Visualisation of exhaled breath metabolites reveals distinct diagnostic signatures for acute cardiorespiratory breathlessness

Breath analysis can be a useful noninvasive way to detect disease. Here, Ibrahim et al. studied the volatile organic compound (VOC) signatures associated with acute cardiorespiratory diseases in patients presenting breathlessness. Using two-dimensional gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, the authors found clusters of VOCs associated with acute heart failure, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and pneumonia. These breath biomarkers correlated with blood-based biomarkers. An acute disease VOC score based on a 101-biomarker panel was associated with 2-year all-cause mortality. This study demonstrates how breathomics can help diagnose disease and further our understanding of metabolic subgroups