. 2019 Mar 12;69(681):e236–e245. doi: 10.3399/bjgp19X701837

Table 3.

Univariable associations (P<0.01) with parental and clinician illness severity score

Significant variables	Parent high severity score (≥7)^a		Parent normal and low severity score (<7)			Clinician high severity score (≥4)^a		Clinician normal and low severity score (<4)

	n	%	n	%	P-value	n	%	n	%	P-value
Sociodemographics and past medical history
Male	^b	^b	^b	^b	^b	1578/2938	53.7	2735/5422	50.4	<0.010
≥2 children at home	1493/2134	70.0	4004/6196	64.6	<0.001	2035/2925	69.6	3457/5397	64.1	<0.001
Illness deteriorated recently before consultation	1742/2143	81.3	3778/6216	60.8	<0.001	2300/2936	78.3	3214/5414	59.4	<0.001
Current asthma^c	^b	^b	^b	^b	^b	308/2938	10.5	437/5422	8.1	<0.001

Parent-/carer-reported general symptoms
Change in cry	498/2132	23.4	880/6207	14.2	<0.001	634/2930	21.6	742/5403	13.7	<0.001
Rapid breathing	1085/2143	50.6	1885/6223	30.3	<0.001	1419/2938	48.3	1549/5419	28.6	<0.001
Wheezing/whistling in the chest	991/2143	46.2	2287/6220	36.8	<0.001	1395/2937	47.5	1879/5418	34.7	<0.001
Vomiting, including after a cough	738/2143	34.4	1603/6233	25.7	<0.001	933/2938	31.8	1407/5419	26.0	<0.001

Parent-/carer-reported symptoms (in previous 24 hours)
Severe dry cough	256/2137	12.0	302/6202	4.9	<0.001	242/2931	8.3	319/5401	5.9	<0.001
Severe fever	296/2134	13.9	243/6204	3.9	<0.001	347/2922	11.9	193/5406	3.6	<0.001
Severe disturbed sleep	539/2133	25.3	806/6193	13.0	<0.001	625/2923	21.4	722/5394	13.4	<0.001
Severe reduction in eating	217/2131	10.2	210/6201	3.4	<0.001	252/2918	8.6	177/5405	3.3	<0.001
Rapid breathing	712/2137	33.3	916/6216	14.7	<0.001	852/2934	29.0	777/5410	14.4	<0.001
Moderate-to-severe wheezing in chest	581/2141	27.1	1033/6211	16.6	<0.001	784/2931	26.7	827/5412	15.3	<0.001
Moderate-to-severe diarrhoea	126/2143	5.9	216/6216	3.5	<0.001	^b	^b	^b	^b	^b
Moderate-to-severe vomiting (including after a cough)	316/2138	14.8	521/6219	8.4	<0.001	340/2934	11.6	496/5414	9.2	<0.001
Moderate-to-severe reduced fluid intake	467/2133	21.9	688/6212	11.1	<0.001	551/2924	18.8	601/5412	11.1	<0.001
Moderate-to-severe reduction in urine passed	202/2132	9.5	260/6206	4.2	<0.001	261/2931	8.9	203/5401	3.8	<0.001

General clinical examination
Pallor^d	^d	^d	^d	^d	^d	331/2934	11.3	489/5416	9.0	<0.001
Grunting	^d	^d	^d	^d	^d	59/2933	2.0	16/5416	0.3	<0.001
Nasal flaring	^d	^d	^d	^d	^d	79/2934	2.7	22/5417	0.4	<0.001
Temperature ≥37.8°C	^d	^d	^d	^d	^d	690/2929	23.6	351/5409	6.5	<0.001
Raised respiratory rate (age-related cut-offs)	^d	^d	^d	^d	^d	681/2932	23.2	560/5395	10.4	<0.001
Low oxygen saturation (≤95%)	^d	^d	^d	^d	^d	234/1378	17.0	167/2804	6.0	<0.001
Irritable or drowsy	^d	^d	^d	^d	^d	88/2936	3.0	29/5413	0.5	<0.001
Clinician’s gut feeling that something is wrong	^d	^d	^d	^d	^d	1213/2931	41.4	483/5413	8.9	<0.001
Inflamed pharynx/tonsils	^d	^d	^d	^d	^d	196/928	21.1	187/5403	3.5	<0.001

Chest examination
Wheeze^d	^d	^d	^d	^d	^d	776/2931	26.5	454/5416	8.4	<0.001
Crackles/crepitations	^d	^d	^d	^d	^d	1140/2932	38.9	452/5415	8.3	<0.001
Raised respiratory rate (age-related cut-offs)	^d	^d	^d	^d	^d	681/2932	23.2	560/5395	10.4	<0.001
Inter/subcostal recession	^d	^d	^d	^d	^d	350/2934	11.9	53/5416	1.0	<0.001

Based on upper quartile of total dataset (n = 8394).

Not significantly associated.

Defined as present if asthma in medical notes and asthma medication issued in the previous 12 months.

Parents were not expected to clinically examine their child.