scholarly journals How accurate is the prehospital diagnosis of hyperventilation syndrome?

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 445-454
Author(s):  
Caitlin Wilson ◽  
Clare Harley ◽  
Stephanie Steels
Keyword(s):  
Routine Data ◽  
Emergency Medical Technicians ◽  
Likelihood Ratios ◽  
Hyperventilation Syndrome ◽  
Predictive Values ◽  
Emergency Medical ◽  
Retrospective Audit ◽  
Emergency Ambulance ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity

Background: The literature suggests that hyperventilation syndrome (HVS) should be diagnosed and treated prehospitally. Aim: To determine diagnostic accuracy of HVS by paramedics and emergency medical technicians using hospital doctors' diagnosis as the reference standard. Methods: A retrospective audit was carried out of routine data using linked prehospital and in-hospital patient records of adult patients (≥18 years) transported via emergency ambulance to two emergency departments in the UK from 1 January 2012–31 December 2013. Accuracy was measured using sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (NPV/PPVs) and likelihood ratios (LRs) with 95% confidence intervals. Results: A total of 19 386 records were included in the analysis. Prehospital clinicians had a sensitivity of 88% (95% CI [82–92%]) and a specificity of 99% (95% CI [99–99%]) for diagnosing HVS, with PPV 0.42 (0.37, 0.47), NPV 1.00 (1.00, 1.00), LR+ 75.2 (65.3, 86.5) and LR− 0.12 (0.08, 0.18). Conclusions: Paramedics and emergency medical technicians are able to diagnose HVS prehospitally with almost perfect specificity and good sensitivity.

scholarly journals Value and Diagnostic Efficacy of Fetal Morphology Assessment Using Ultrasound in A Poor-Resource Setting

Diagnostics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ukweh ◽  
Ugbem ◽  
Okeke ◽  
Ekpo
Keyword(s):  
Predictive Value ◽  
Performance Metrics ◽  
Area Under The Curve ◽  
Youden Index ◽  
Likelihood Ratios ◽  
Diagnostic Efficacy ◽  
Predictive Values ◽  
Resource Setting ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity

Background: Ultrasound is operator-dependent, and its value and efficacy in fetal morphology assessment in a low-resource setting is poorly understood. We assessed the value and efficacy of fetal morphology ultrasound assessment in a Nigerian setting. Materials and Methods: We surveyed fetal morphology ultrasound performed across five facilities and followed-up each fetus to ascertain the outcome. Fetuses were surveyed in the second trimester (18th–22nd weeks) using the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology (ISUOG) guideline. Clinical and surgical reports were used as references to assess the diagnostic efficacy of ultrasound in livebirths, and autopsy reports to confirm anomalies in terminated pregnancies, spontaneous abortions, intrauterine fetal deaths, and still births. We calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, Area under the curve (AUC), Youden index, likelihood ratios, and post-test probabilities. Results: In total, 6520 fetuses of women aged 15–46 years (mean = 31.7 years) were surveyed. The overall sensitivity, specificity, and AUC were 77.1 (95% CI: 68–84.6), 99.5 (95% CI: 99.3–99.7), and 88.3 (95% CI: 83.7–92.2), respectively. Other performance metrics were: positive predictive value, 72.4 (95% CI: 64.7–79.0), negative predictive value, 99.6 (95% CI: 99.5–99.7), and Youden index (77.1%). Abnormality prevalence was 1.67% (95% CI: 1.37–2.01), and the positive and negative likelihood ratios were 254 (95% CI: 107.7–221.4) and 0.23 (95% CI: 0.16–0.33), respectively. The post-test probability for positive test was 72% (95% CI: 65–79). Conclusion: Fetal morphology assessment is valuable in a poor economics setting, however, the variation in the diagnostic efficacy across facilities and the limitations associated with the detection of circulatory system anomalies need to be addressed.

Neutrophil CD64 Index as a superior biomarker for early diagnosis of infection in febrile patients in the hematology department

2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shu-Dao Xiong ◽  
Lian-Fang Pu ◽  
Hui-Ping Wang ◽  
Lin-Hui Hu ◽  
Yang-Yang Ding ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Specificity ◽  
Likelihood Ratios ◽  
Predictive Values ◽  
Combined Analysis ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Neutrophil Cd64 ◽  
Special Value ◽  
Diagnostic Values ◽  
Neutropenic Patients ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity

Abstract Background: In the hematology department, the availability of biomarkers for early detection of infection is difficult to obtain. The present study aimed to compare the diagnostic values of neutrophil CD64 Index, procalcitonin (PCT), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) and to determine whether the combined analysis of these biomarkers offer stronger predictive power in the diagnosis for the infection of febrile patients. Methods: Neutrophil CD64 Index, PCT, IL-6 and CRP levels were determined in 356 febrile patients in the hematology ward from May 2013 to May 2015. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios, positive and negative predictive values, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) areas under the curve (AUC), and logistic regression analysis were determined to evaluate the diagnostic values of these biomarkers. Results: The levels of the four biomarkers were higher in the infection patients (p<0.001), and the PCT and IL-6 were higher in the patients with positive microbial blood culture (p<0.01). The neutrophil CD64 Index, PCT, IL-6, CRP had AUCs of 0.95, 0.83, 0.75 and 0.73, respectively. The best cut-off value of the neutrophil CD64 Index to detect infections was 5.06, with high specificity (87.5%) and sensitivity (88.4%). Furthermore, neutrophil CD64 Index, PCT and IL-6 offered the best combination of diagnosis with sensitivity of 93.9% and an AUC of 0.95. In addition, the neutrophil CD64 Index may have a special value to assist the physician to diagnose infection in the neutropenic patients with fever. Conclusions: The neutrophil CD64 Index is useful for early identification of infections in febrile patients in the hematology department. The combined analysis of the CD64 Index, PCT and IL-6 could further improve its sensitivity.

A unique antiphospholipid assay recognizing phospholipid mixture compared with criteria antiphospholipid immunoassays in lupus patients

Lupus ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 606-615 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y Zuo ◽  
R Willis ◽  
E Papalardo ◽  
M Petri ◽  
E N Harris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lupus Erythematosus ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Likelihood Ratios ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Predictive Values ◽  
Pregnancy Morbidity ◽  
Commercial Kits ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity

Background While essential for the classification of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), anticardiolipin (aCL) assays lack specificity and anti-β2glycoproteinI (anti-β2GPI) assays lack sensitivity in this regard. Our aim was to perform a comparative analysis of the APhL ELISA assay (IgG/IgM) and criteria antiphospholipid (aPL) immunoassays in identifying APS-related clinical manifestations in a large group of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods Serum samples from 1178 patients from the Hopkins ( n = 543), LUMINA ( n = 588) and Jamaican SLE cohorts ( n = 47) were examined for IgG/IgM positivity in aCL (in-house), anti-β2GPI (two commercial kits) and APhL (Louisville APL) ELISA assays. Correlation of assay positivity with clinical manifestations and sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and likelihood ratios were evaluated. A case series analysis was also performed in patients for whom there was isolated positivity in the specific aPL assays. Results The prevalence of aCL positivity was 34.9%, anti-β2GPI kit A was 22.6%, APhL was 11.5% and anti-β2GPI kit B was 7.6% in the study population. Anti-β2GPI kit B, aCL and APhL assays were correlated with venous thrombosis, while only APhL was significantly correlated with arterial thrombosis and consistently correlated with pregnancy-related morbidity. No significant correlations were noted for anti-β2GPI kit A. Sensitivity was greatest for aCL assays followed by anti-β2GPI kit A, APhL and anti-β2GPI kit B, while specificity was greatest and equal for anti-β2GPI kit B and APhL assays. Conclusions Overall, APhL antibodies, especially IgG, represent a promising biomarker for the classification of APS patients in the context of autoimmunity and in risk assessment with regards to pregnancy morbidity and thrombotic manifestations.

scholarly journals Interpreting Validity Indexes for Diagnostic Tests: An Illustration Using the Berg Balance Test

1999 ◽  
Vol 79 (10) ◽  
pp. 939-948 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel L Riddle ◽  
Paul W Stratford
Keyword(s):  
Physical Therapists ◽  
Likelihood Ratios ◽  
Optimal Method ◽  
Balance Test ◽  
Predictive Values ◽  
Prognostic Accuracy ◽  
Clinical Scenarios ◽  
Risk Of Falls ◽  
Prognostic Tests ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity

Abstract Physical therapists routinely make diagnostic and prognostic decisions in the course of patient care. The purpose of this clinical perspective is to illustrate what we believe is the optimal method for interpreting the results of studies that describe the diagnostic or prognostic accuracy of examination procedures. To illustrate our points, we chose the Berg Balance Test as an exemplar measure. We combined the data from 2 previously published research reports designed to determine the validity of the Berg Balance Test for predicting risk of falls among elderly people. We calculated the most common validity indexes, including sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and likelihood ratios for the combined data. Clinical scenarios were used to demonstrate how we believe these validity indexes should be used to guide clinical decisions. We believe therapists should use validity indexes to decrease the uncertainty associated with diagnostic and prognostic decisions. More studies of the accuracy of diagnostic and prognostic tests used by physical therapists are urgently needed.

scholarly journals An analysis of clinical predictive values for radiographic pneumonia in children

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (8) ◽  
pp. e002708
Author(s):  
Chris A Rees ◽  
Sudha Basnet ◽  
Angela Gentile ◽  
Bradford D Gessner ◽  
Cissy B Kartasasmita ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxygen Saturation ◽  
Primary Endpoint ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Clinical Findings ◽  
Likelihood Ratios ◽  
Predictive Values ◽  
Resource Limited ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity ◽  
Radiographic Pneumonia

IntroductionHealthcare providers in resource-limited settings rely on the presence of tachypnoea and chest indrawing to establish a diagnosis of pneumonia in children. We aimed to determine the test characteristics of commonly assessed signs and symptoms for the radiographic diagnosis of pneumonia in children 0–59 months of age.MethodsWe conducted an analysis using patient-level pooled data from 41 shared datasets of paediatric pneumonia. We included hospital-based studies in which >80% of children had chest radiography performed. Primary endpoint pneumonia (presence of dense opacity occupying a portion or entire lobe of the lung or presence of pleural effusion on chest radiograph) was used as the reference criterion radiographic standard. We assessed the sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios for clinical findings, and combinations of findings, for the diagnosis of primary endpoint pneumonia among children 0–59 months of age.ResultsTen studies met inclusion criteria comprising 15 029 children; 24.9% (n=3743) had radiographic pneumonia. The presence of age-based tachypnoea demonstrated a sensitivity of 0.92 and a specificity of 0.22 while lower chest indrawing revealed a sensitivity of 0.74 and specificity of 0.15 for the diagnosis of radiographic pneumonia. The sensitivity and specificity for oxygen saturation <90% was 0.40 and 0.67, respectively, and was 0.17 and 0.88 for oxygen saturation <85%. Specificity was improved when individual clinical factors such as tachypnoea, fever and hypoxaemia were combined, however, the sensitivity was lower.ConclusionsNo single sign or symptom was strongly associated with radiographic primary end point pneumonia in children. Performance characteristics were improved by combining individual signs and symptoms.

scholarly journals The use of 4.5% hypertonic saline challenge test in diagnosing asthma in children with chronic recurrent cough

2016 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 93
Author(s):  
Bambang Supriyatno ◽  
Dina Medina ◽  
Alan R Tumbelaka ◽  
Nastiti N Rahajoe
Keyword(s):  
Hypertonic Saline ◽  
Likelihood Ratio ◽  
Challenge Test ◽  
Positive Likelihood Ratio ◽  
Negative Likelihood Ratio ◽  
Provocation Test ◽  
Likelihood Ratios ◽  
Predictive Values ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity ◽  
Histamine Challenge

Background The 4.5% hypertonic saline (HS) challenge test hasseveral benefits compared to histamine challenge test as gold stan-dard. Saline is an inexpensive non-pharmacological substancewhich is relatively safe. Its mechanism in inducing bronchospasmresembles that of asthma. Moreover, it can easily be made in amodest medical laboratory.Objective To determine the ability of 4.5% HS challenge test com-pared to histamine challenge test in diagnosing asthma in childrenwith chronic recurrent cough (CRC).Methods This study was a diagnostic test on children with CRCaged 6 to 14 years, conducted in outpatient clinic of Department ofChild Health, Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta. All subjectsunderwent lung function tests. Subjects whose FEV 1 was <80% werediagnosed as asthmatic and underwent the 4.5% HS challenge testonly. Those whose FEV 1 was 80% underwent the histamine chal-lenge test followed by the 4.5% HS challenge test one or two weekslater. Test results were expressed as positive or negative. Based onthe results, we calculated the sensitivity, specificity, predictive val-ues, and likelihood ratios of the 4.5% HS challenge test.Results Forty-five subjects, consisting of 22 boys and 23 girls,were enrolled. The average age of subjects was 9 years old. Atopichistory in the family or in subjects themselves was found in 80% ofsubjects. Eight subjects had FEV 1 of <80%. Forty-four subjectswere diagnosed with asthma based on a baseline FEV 1 of <80%or a positive histamine provocation test. Thirty-seven subjects hada positive 4.5% HS challenge test; all had asthma. Sensitivity andspecificity of the 4.5% HS challenge test were 84.1% and 100.0%,respectively; the positive and negative predictive values were100.0% and 12.5%, respectively. The positive likelihood ratio wasinfinite and negative likelihood ratio was 0.16.Conclusion The 4.5% hypertonic saline challenge test can be usedas an alternative bronchial provocation test in diagnosing asthma inchildren with CRC. Further study with larger sample size is neededfor widespread usage.

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