Browse Guides  internal medicine  pulmonology

Asthma exacerbation

Prevalence
Clinical features
Differential Diagnosis
Investigations
Therapy
Prevention
Prognosis
Clinical features

Look for a prolonged forced expiratory time. b  

Why?

A long forced expiratory time increases the chance of airflow limitation.

Patient Target Disorder and
Reference Standard		 Diagnostic Test LR+
(95% CI)		 Post-test Probability
suspected airflow limitation b
(pre-test probability: 33%)		 airflow limitation
(FEV1 and FVC by spirometry)		 forced expiratory time > 9 sec 4.8
70%
    6 to 9 sec 2.7
57%
    < 6 sec 0.45
18%
 

 

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