HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Permissions Request Permissions Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (17) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Anees, W. Articles by Burge, P.S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Anees, W. Articles by Burge, P.S.

Effect of peak expiratory flow data quantity on diagnostic sensitivity and specificity in occupational asthma

Occupational Lung Disease Unit, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham, UK

CORRESPONDENCE: W. Anees, Occupational Lung Disease Unit, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, Bordesley Green East, Birmingham, UK. Fax: 44 1217720292. E-mail: wasif@anees3.freeserve.co.uk

Keywords: Oasys-2, occupational asthma, peak expiratory flow

Received: December 30, 2001
Accepted December 1, 2003

This study was funded by the European Chemical Industry Council, Brussels, Belgium. W. Anees is also supported by a grant from the Colt foundation, Havant, UK.

Serial peak expiratory flow records are recommended in the first-line investigation of suspected occupational asthma.

The effects of sequentially reducing the numbers of working weeks, consecutive days at work and readings taken per day on diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were investigated, using good quality peak expiratory flow records from 81 workers with independently confirmed occupational asthma and 60 asthmatics without occupational exposure.

Sensitivity was 81.8% for records of 4 weeks' duration and 70% for those of 2 weeks' duration (specificity 93.8 and 82.4% respectively). The sensitivity fell to 56.7% if there were only 2 consecutive workdays in each work period. Although best at 8 readings·day^–1, sensitivity and specificity were acceptable with four daily readings (82.4 and 87%). The effect of defining a record as being of adequate quality if it was of 2.5 weeks' duration, with 4 readings·day^–1 and 3 consecutive workdays in each work period, was tested in records not used in the initial data reduction process. The sensitivity and specificity respectively of adequate records were 78.1 and 91.8 versus 63.6 and 83.3% for inadequate records.

Peak expiratory flow records for the diagnosis of occupational asthma should be interpreted with caution if they do not satisfy the suggested minimum data quantity criteria.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				V. C. Moore, P. Cullinan, S. Sadhra, and P. S. Burge Peak expiratory flow analysis in workers exposed to detergent enzymes Occup. Med., June 15, 2009; (2009) kqp083v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Sauni, P. Kauppi, E. Helaskoski, P. Virtema, and J. Verbeek Audit of quality of diagnostic procedures for occupational asthma Occup. Med., June 1, 2009; 59(4): 230 - 236. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. C. Moore, M. S. Jaakkola, C. B. S. G. Burge, C. F. Pantin, A. S. Robertson, A. D. Vellore, and P. S. Burge PEF analysis requiring shorter records for occupational asthma diagnosis Occup. Med., May 29, 2009; (2009) kqp081v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. C. Moore, M. S. Jaakkola, C. B. S. G. Burge, A. S. Robertson, C. F. A. Pantin, A. D. Vellore, and P. S. Burge A New Diagnostic Score for Occupational Asthma: The Area Between the Curves (ABC Score) of Peak Expiratory Flow on Days at and Away From Work Chest, February 1, 2009; 135(2): 307 - 314. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W Robertson, A S Robertson, C B S G Burge, V C Moore, M S Jaakkola, P A Dawkins, M Burd, R Rawbone, I Gardner, M Kinoulty, et al. Clinical investigation of an outbreak of alveolitis and asthma in a car engine manufacturing plant Thorax, November 1, 2007; 62(11): 981 - 990. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. R Bolen, P. K Henneberger, X. Liang, S. R Sama, P. A Preusse, R. A Rosiello, and D. K Milton The validation of work-related self-reported asthma exacerbation Occup. Environ. Med., May 1, 2007; 64(5): 343 - 348. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Medina-Ramon, J. P. Zock, M. Kogevinas, J. Sunyer, X. Basagana, J. Schwartz, P. S. Burge, V. Moore, and J. M. Anto Short-term respiratory effects of cleaning exposures in female domestic cleaners Eur. Respir. J., June 1, 2006; 27(6): 1196 - 1203. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. E. Mapp, P. Boschetto, P. Maestrelli, and L. M. Fabbri Occupational Asthma Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., August 1, 2005; 172(3): 280 - 305. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]