Sensitivity and specificity of combined parameters to detect severe exacerbations
| Severe exacerbations in the whole asthma cohort | ||
|---|---|---|
| Definition of exacerbation | Sensitivity (%) | Specificity (%) |
| 20% decrease in PEF on 2 consecutive days and 20% increase in day symptoms on 2 consecutive days | 13.3 | 99.5 |
| 20% decrease in PEF on 2 consecutive days or 20% increase in day symptoms on 2 consecutive days | 65.0 | 94.9 |
| 20% decrease in FEV1 on 2 consecutive days and 20% increase in day symptoms on 2 consecutive days | 13.2 | 99.3 |
| 20% decrease in FEV1 on 2 consecutive days or 20% increase in day symptoms on 2 consecutive days | 60.4 | 94.8 |
Bold used to underline the most significant parts of the definition. FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 s; PEF, peak expiratory flow.