Agreement between clinical examination and quantitative tests of neurologic function among 384 subjects.
BACKGROUND
Quantitative neurological tests are often cheaper and easier than clinical examinations, and provide continuous data which may discriminate between exposed and nonexposed groups with more sensitivity than dichotomous (normal/abnormal) examination data.


METHODS
We compare clinical examinations and analogous quantitative tests for arm tremor, postural sway, and vibrotactile sensitivity (finger and toe), for 384 subjects.


RESULTS
The "abnormal" clinical outcomes studied were relatively common (range, 3-36%), and did not result in impairment of daily activity for affected subjects. All the quantitative tests were reasonably good predictors of the corresponding clinical outcome. The most predictive test was for toe vibrotactile sensitivity. The probability of an abnormal clinical result for those in the worst quartile for the toe test was 0.63, compared with 0.36 for all subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that certain quantitative tests might be used in epidemiologic studies instead of a physical examination.
Steenland
K
K
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226-1998, USA. nsteenland@cdc.gov
Dick
R
R
Fine
L
L
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010575:Pesticides / Q000009:adverse effects; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014202:Tremor / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014732:Vibration
D010575:Pesticides