PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - I Dundas
AU  - E Y Chan
AU  - P D Bridge
AU  - S A McKenzie
TI  - Diagnostic accuracy of bronchodilator responsiveness in wheezy children
AID  - 10.1136/thx.2004.029934
DP  - 2005 Jan 01
TA  - Thorax
PG  - 13--16
VI  - 60
IP  - 1
4099  - http://thorax.bmj.com/content/60/1/13.short
4100  - http://thorax.bmj.com/content/60/1/13.full
SO  - Thorax2005 Jan 01; 60
AB  - Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of bronchodilator responsiveness for asthma in 5–10 year old children. Methods: Spirometric measurements were made in 142 children (58 wheezers) before and after 400 μg inhaled salbutamol. Results: On a receiver operating characteristic curve, a 9% increase in predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second was the cut off point that provided an acceptable balance of sensitivity and specificity for previous wheeze. This figure was 50% (95% CI 38 to 62) sensitive and 86% (95% CI 78 to 92) specific for detecting previous wheeze and multiplied the initial odds in favour of wheeze by a factor of 3.6 (95% CI 2.0 to 6.3). Discussion: With an estimated pretest probability of wheeze of 10% in the community and 50% in a specialist clinic, the positive predictive values are 29% and 78%, respectively, for a 9% change. The value of bronchodilator responsiveness testing depends on the prevalence of wheeze in the population in which it is to be used.