The added value of C-reactive protein to clinical signs and symptoms in patients with obstructive airway disease: results of a diagnostic study in primary care
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of clinical signs and symptoms, C-reactive protein (CRP) and spirometric parameters and determine their interrelation in patients suspected to have an obstructive airway disease (OAD) in primary ca...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2006-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Family Practice |
| Online Access: | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2296/7/28 |
| _version_ | 1811327636764360704 |
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| author | Meyer Joachim Gantner Lutz Maag Inko Dinant Geert-Jan Schneider Antonius Szecsenyi Joachim |
| author_facet | Meyer Joachim Gantner Lutz Maag Inko Dinant Geert-Jan Schneider Antonius Szecsenyi Joachim |
| author_sort | Meyer Joachim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of clinical signs and symptoms, C-reactive protein (CRP) and spirometric parameters and determine their interrelation in patients suspected to have an obstructive airway disease (OAD) in primary care.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In a cross sectional diagnostic study, 60 adult patients coming to the general practitioner (GP) for the first-time with complaints suspicious for obstructive airway disease (OAD) underwent spirometry. Peak expiratory flow (PEF)-variability within two weeks was determined in patients with inconspicuous spirometry. Structured medical histories were documented and CRP was measured. The reference standard was the Tiffeneau ratio (FEV<sub>1</sub>/VC) in spirometry and the PEF-variability. OAD was diagnosed when FEV<sub>1</sub>/VC ≤ 70% or PEF-variability > 20%.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>37 (62%) patients had OAD. The best cut-off value for CRP was found at 2 mg/l with a diagnostic odds ratio (OR) of 4.4 (95% CI 1.4–13.8). Self-reported wheezing was significantly related with OAD (OR 3.4; CI 1.1–10.3), whereas coughing was inversely related (OR 0.2; CI 0.1–0.7). The diagnostic OR of CRP increased when combined with dyspnea (OR 8.5; 95% CI 1.7–42.3) or smoking history (OR 8.4; 95% CI 1.5–48.9). CRP (p = 0.004), FEV<sub>1 </sub>(p = 0.001) and FIV<sub>1 </sub>(p = 0.023) were related with the severity of dyspnea. CRP increased with the number of cigarettes, expressed in pack years (p = 0.001).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The diagnostic accuracy of clinical signs and symptoms was low. The diagnostic accuracy of CRP improved in combination with dyspnea and smoking history. Due to their coherence with the severity of dyspnea and number of cigarettes respectively, CRP and spirometry might allow risk stratification of patients with OAD in primary care. Further studies need to be done to confirm these findings.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T15:11:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a8b850dacbf74fd99879eba9463e12bb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2296 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T15:11:22Z |
| publishDate | 2006-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Family Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-a8b850dacbf74fd99879eba9463e12bb2022-12-22T02:42:00ZengBMCBMC Family Practice1471-22962006-05-01712810.1186/1471-2296-7-28The added value of C-reactive protein to clinical signs and symptoms in patients with obstructive airway disease: results of a diagnostic study in primary careMeyer JoachimGantner LutzMaag InkoDinant Geert-JanSchneider AntoniusSzecsenyi Joachim<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of clinical signs and symptoms, C-reactive protein (CRP) and spirometric parameters and determine their interrelation in patients suspected to have an obstructive airway disease (OAD) in primary care.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In a cross sectional diagnostic study, 60 adult patients coming to the general practitioner (GP) for the first-time with complaints suspicious for obstructive airway disease (OAD) underwent spirometry. Peak expiratory flow (PEF)-variability within two weeks was determined in patients with inconspicuous spirometry. Structured medical histories were documented and CRP was measured. The reference standard was the Tiffeneau ratio (FEV<sub>1</sub>/VC) in spirometry and the PEF-variability. OAD was diagnosed when FEV<sub>1</sub>/VC ≤ 70% or PEF-variability > 20%.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>37 (62%) patients had OAD. The best cut-off value for CRP was found at 2 mg/l with a diagnostic odds ratio (OR) of 4.4 (95% CI 1.4–13.8). Self-reported wheezing was significantly related with OAD (OR 3.4; CI 1.1–10.3), whereas coughing was inversely related (OR 0.2; CI 0.1–0.7). The diagnostic OR of CRP increased when combined with dyspnea (OR 8.5; 95% CI 1.7–42.3) or smoking history (OR 8.4; 95% CI 1.5–48.9). CRP (p = 0.004), FEV<sub>1 </sub>(p = 0.001) and FIV<sub>1 </sub>(p = 0.023) were related with the severity of dyspnea. CRP increased with the number of cigarettes, expressed in pack years (p = 0.001).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The diagnostic accuracy of clinical signs and symptoms was low. The diagnostic accuracy of CRP improved in combination with dyspnea and smoking history. Due to their coherence with the severity of dyspnea and number of cigarettes respectively, CRP and spirometry might allow risk stratification of patients with OAD in primary care. Further studies need to be done to confirm these findings.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2296/7/28 |
| spellingShingle | Meyer Joachim Gantner Lutz Maag Inko Dinant Geert-Jan Schneider Antonius Szecsenyi Joachim The added value of C-reactive protein to clinical signs and symptoms in patients with obstructive airway disease: results of a diagnostic study in primary care BMC Family Practice |
| title | The added value of C-reactive protein to clinical signs and symptoms in patients with obstructive airway disease: results of a diagnostic study in primary care |
| title_full | The added value of C-reactive protein to clinical signs and symptoms in patients with obstructive airway disease: results of a diagnostic study in primary care |
| title_fullStr | The added value of C-reactive protein to clinical signs and symptoms in patients with obstructive airway disease: results of a diagnostic study in primary care |
| title_full_unstemmed | The added value of C-reactive protein to clinical signs and symptoms in patients with obstructive airway disease: results of a diagnostic study in primary care |
| title_short | The added value of C-reactive protein to clinical signs and symptoms in patients with obstructive airway disease: results of a diagnostic study in primary care |
| title_sort | added value of c reactive protein to clinical signs and symptoms in patients with obstructive airway disease results of a diagnostic study in primary care |
| url | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2296/7/28 |
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