title: [The usefulness of certain diagnostic tests for diagnosis of bronchial asthma in epidemiologic investigations].
abstract: The study was carried out to assess accuracy of questionnaire, bronchial inhalation challenge, physical examination and spirography in identifying subjects with bronchial asthma of 582 chemical industry workers, compared with 80 persons with atopic bronchial asthma in epidemiologic screening study. It was found, that based on standards against which tests have been verified, none of them have shown 100% sensitivity and specificity in recognition of asthma in screening group. The best accurate tests in recognition of asthma were bronchial inhalation challenge (sensitivity 47%, specificity 96%) and questionnaire (sensitivity 68%, specificity 88%). Bronchial hyperreactivity showed the highest positive predictive value (82%) in prevision cases of the disease. In conclusions, standard mostly close to bronchial asthma in epidemiologic surveys should contain bronchial hyperreactivity and typical asthmatic symptoms according to the questionnaire.
authors.affiliation: Katedry i Kliniki Alergologii i Chorób Wewnetrznych AM w Bydgoszczy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dziedziczko
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D002617:Chemical Industry; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires