Browse Guides  internal medicine  pulmonology

Asthma exacerbation

Prevalence
Clinical features
Differential Diagnosis
Investigations
Therapy
Prevention
Prognosis
Clinical features

Look for evidence of airway obstruction b
  • wheezing
  • barrel chest
  • hyperresonance
Why?

Clinical signs help predict airflow limitation

Patient Target Disorder and
Reference Standard		 Diagnostic Test LR+
(95% CI) 		Post-test Probability LR-
(95% CI) 		Post-test Probability
suspected airflow limitation b
(pre-test probability: 33%) 		airflow limitation
(FEV1 and FVC by spirometry) 		wheezing 36
95% 0.85
 30%
    barrel chest 10
83% 0.90
31%
    hyperresonance 4.8
70% 0.73
 26%

 

Expiry date: November 2003
Levels of Evidence used in grading these guides

Authors   B   Wong , CM   Ball
Reviewer   B R   O'Driscoll
CAT Writers   B   Wong , CM   Ball