title: Laryngeal measurements and diagnostic tools for diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios of laryngeal height, lung function, and diagnostic questionnaires for screening and diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
  
  
  METHODS
  We undertook a cross-sectional study of 233 people aged between 40 and 75 years. Measured variables were age, sex, weight, height, body mass index, tobacco use, maximum laryngeal height, and spirometry, and we administered a COPD questionnaire and the Lung Function Questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For laryngeal height, we found a positive likelihood ratio of 5.21, and for the Lung Function Questionnaire, we found a negative likelihood ratio of 0.10. Combining a maximum laryngeal height of ≤4 cm with Lung Function Questionnaire findings of ≤18 yielded a positive likelihood ratio of 29.06, and a negative likelihood ratio of 0.26.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The intrinsic validity of the lung function questionnaire makes it useful for screening. Combining Lung Function Questionnaire results and laryngeal height can help confirm or dismiss COPD.
authors.affiliation: Parquesol Teaching Health Center, West Valladolid Multiprofessional Family and Communitary Care Teaching Unit, Valladolid, Spain veronica.casado@telefonica.net.
authors.forename: Verónica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Casado
authors.affiliation: Parquesol Teaching Health Center, West Valladolid Multiprofessional Family and Communitary Care Teaching Unit, Valladolid, Spain.
authors.forename: Sandra M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.affiliation: Parquesol Teaching Health Center, West Valladolid Multiprofessional Family and Communitary Care Teaching Unit, Valladolid, Spain.
authors.forename: Andrés E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.affiliation: Parquesol Teaching Health Center, West Valladolid Multiprofessional Family and Communitary Care Teaching Unit, Valladolid, Spain.
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Villafañe
authors.affiliation: Parquesol Teaching Health Center, West Valladolid Multiprofessional Family and Communitary Care Teaching Unit, Valladolid, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.affiliation: Parquesol Teaching Health Center, West Valladolid Multiprofessional Family and Communitary Care Teaching Unit, Valladolid, Spain.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Spaans
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007830:Larynx / Q000473:pathology*; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: COPD; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; diagnostic questionnaire; laryngeal measurement