Diagnosis of occupational asthma from time point differences in serial PEF measurements

Time point analysis complements other validated methods of PEF analysis for the diagnosis of occupational asthma. It requires shorter records than are required for the Oasys score and can identify smaller changes than other methods, but is dependent on low rest day PEF variance. At the moment it only analyses day shifts and requires patients to wake up at similar times on work days and days off.

The ability to diagnose from smaller changes allows some patients to be diagnosed earlier and thus improve prognosis.

Records with >=2 time points significantly lower on work days had a sensitivity of 67% and a specificity of 99%.

It has been added to the development version of Oasys.

References

	Burge CBSG, Moore VC, Pantin CFA, Robertson AS, Burge PS, Diagnosis of occupational asthma from time point differences in serial PEF measurements, Thorax, 2009;64:1032-1036,

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