Table 2. The utility of history and physical examination findings in chronic dyspnoea presentations in adults.

Parameter	Sensitivity (%)	Specificity (%)	PPV (%)	NPV (%)	Diagnosis
History
Previous COPD diagnosis			45	95	COPD (14)
			45		COPD (10)
Previous asthma diagnosis			48	76	Asthma (14)
			55		Asthma (10)
Cigarette smoking			20	100	COPD (14)
			40	100	COPD (10)
			41	90	COPD (15)
History of cough			42	81	COPD (14)
			47	76	COPD (15)
Shallow breathing	33	84	13	95	ILD (16)
Chest tightness	38	88	40	87	Asthma (16)
History of wheezing			42	83	Asthma (14)
			5	88	Upper airway disorder (14)
Throat clearing			12	97	Upper airway disorder (14)
Post-nasal drip			12	94	Upper airway disorder (14)
Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea	17	93	80	42	Heart failure (17)
Orthopnoea	55	67	72	49	Heart failure (17)
Dyspnoea on exertion	81	27	63	47	Heart failure (17)
Night time cough	19	87	69	41	Heart failure (17)
Physical examination
Tachycardia#	11	90	63	39	Heart failure (17)
Elevated JVP	34	90	84	47	Heart failure (17)
			20	92	Heart failure (15)
Peripheral oedema	55	63	70	48	Heart failure (17)
			10	92	LV systolic dysfunction (15)
Hepatomegaly	12	87	60	39	Heart failure (17)
Cardiac murmur^			32	97	Valvular heart disease (15)
Wheeze			42	89	COPD (14)
			66	67	COPD (15)
			33	72	Asthma (14)
Crackles			79	98	ILD (14)
			21	89	Cardiomyopathy (14)
			0	91	LV systolic dysfunction (15)

^#, defined as greater than 120 beats per minute; ^{^}, grade II or above cardiac murmur. PPV, positive predictive value; NPV, negative predictive value; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; PND, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea; JVP, Jugular venous pressure; ILD, interstitial lung disease; LV, left ventricular.