FeNO score with clinical signs and symptoms improves asthma diagnosis

The diagnostic value of Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) in conjunction with clinical signs and symptoms (CSS) was improved by the diagnostic scoring model, says an article published in Respiratory Medicine.

It is well established that fractional exhaled nitric oxide is useful for diagnosing asthma. When clinical indications and symptoms are combined, the diagnostic value may be improved. In order to create a new model for confirming and excluding asthma, Benjamin Brunn and colleagues undertook this study.

This was a diagnostic multi-center investigation conducted in three German pneumologists' offices. As a diagnostic reference standard, whole-body plethysmography was used in conjunction with bronchodilation tests or bronchial provocation. A follow-up was conducted three months later. For the final diagnosis, a panel of medical professionals looked at test findings, symptoms, and illness progression. To facilitate the combinatorial generation of decision rules, pertinent CSS that were known from guidelines were employed. A diagnostic score was created from the results of multiple logistic regression modeling, and it was then internally verified using ten-fold cross validation.