Table E3.
Characteristics of each predictive clinical feature as a diagnostic test for common causes of chronic cough
| Diagnosis | Clinical feature | Sensitivity, % (95% CI) | Specificity, % (95% CI) | PPV, % (95% CI) | NPV, % (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVA | Nocturnal cough alone | 8.1 (5.0-12.7) | 97.6 (96.4-98.5) | 45.0 (29.6-61.3) | 81.8 (79.3-83.9) |
| Total nocturnal cough | 66.2 (59.5-72.3) | 59.6 (56.3-62.7) | 28.0 (24.2-57.5) | 88.1 (85.3-90.5) | |
| Triggers-common cold | 62.6 (55.9-68.9) | 47.0 (43.7-50.2) | 21.8 (18.7-25.3) | 84.2 (80.7-87.1) | |
| Nasal itching | 42.3 (35.8-49.1) | 78.6 (75.8-81.2) | 31.9 (26.6-37.6) | 85.2 (82.7-87.5) | |
| History of rhinitis | 47.1 (40.4-53.9) | 75.9 (73.0-78.6) | 31.7 (26.8-37.1) | 85.7 (83.1-88.0) | |
| GERC | Nonproductive cough | 79.2 (71.4-85.3) | 40.9 (37.9-44.0) | 16.0 (13.4-18.9) | 93.3 (90.4-95.3) |
| Daily cough alone | 70.1 (61.9-77.3) | 48.6 (45.5-51.7) | 16.2 (13.5-19.4) | 92.0 (89.3-94.1) | |
| Triggers-after meals | 24.8 (18.2-32.8) | 91.2 (89.3-92.8) | 28.8 (21.2-37.7) | 89.5 (87.4-91.3) | |
| Frequent throat clearing | 47.6 (39.3-56.0) | 63.6 (60.6-66.6) | 15.7 (12.5-19.5) | 89.5 (87.0-91.6) | |
| Acid regurgitation | 40.7 (32.7-49.2) | 85.5 (83.2-87.6) | 28.6 (22.7-35.4) | 91.0 (89.0-92.7) | |
| Heartburn | 22.8 (16.4-30.6) | 94.9 (93.3-96.1) | 38.8 (28.6-50.0) | 89.6 (87.6-91.3) | |
| Belching | 40.7 (32.7-49.2) | 85.6 (83.3-87.7) | 28.8 (22.8-35.6) | 91.0 (89.0-92.7) | |
| Reflux-related symptoms | 57.2 (48.8-65.3) | 75.0 (72.2-77.6) | 24.6 (20.2-29.7) | 92.5 (90.4-94.1) | |
| Combined reflux symptoms | 10.3 (6.1-16.8) | 99.3 (98.5-99.7) | 68.2 (45.1-85.3) | 88.6 (86.6-90.4) | |
| UACS | Postnasal dripping | 43.5 (32.9-54.7) | 80.8 (78.3-83.1) | 15.2 (11.0-20.4) | 94.8 (93.1-96.1) |
| Frequent throat clearing | 62.4 (51.1-72.4) | 64.2 (61.2-67.0) | 12.1 (9.2-15.6) | 95.6 (93.7-96.9) | |
| History of sinusitis | 35.7 (25.8-47.0) | 90.2 (88.2-91.8) | 22.2 (15.7-30.3) | 94.7 (93.1-95.9) | |
| Rhinitis/sinusitis-related symptoms. | 72.9 (62.0-81.7) | 46.1 (43.1-49.1) | 9.6 (7.5-12.3) | 95.6 (93.3-97.1) | |
| EB | History of rhinitis | 34.0 (28.3-40.1) | 73.0 (70.0-75.9) | 26.8 (22.2-32.0) | 79.2 (76.2-81.9) |
NPV, negative predictive value; PPV, positive predictive value.