Wilson, C orcid.org/0000-0002-9854-4289, Harley, C orcid.org/0000-0002-8800-4238 and Steels, S (Cover date: 2nd November 2020) How accurate is the prehospital diagnosis of hyperventilation syndrome? Journal of Paramedic Practice, 12 (11). ISSN 1759-1376
Abstract
Background:
The literature suggests that hyperventilation syndrome (HVS) should be diagnosed and treated prehospitally.
Aim:
To determine diagnostic accuracy of HVS by paramedics and emergency medical technicians using hospital doctors' diagnosis as the reference standard.
Methods:
A retrospective audit was carried out of routine data using linked prehospital and in-hospital patient records of adult patients (≥18 years) transported via emergency ambulance to two emergency departments in the UK from 1 January 2012–31 December 2013. Accuracy was measured using sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (NPV/PPVs) and likelihood ratios (LRs) with 95% confidence intervals.
Results:
A total of 19 386 records were included in the analysis. Prehospital clinicians had a sensitivity of 88% (95% CI [82–92%]) and a specificity of 99% (95% CI [99–99%]) for diagnosing HVS, with PPV 0.42 (0.37, 0.47), NPV 1.00 (1.00, 1.00), LR+ 75.2 (65.3, 86.5) and LR− 0.12 (0.08, 0.18).
Conclusions:
Paramedics and emergency medical technicians are able to diagnose HVS prehospitally with almost perfect specificity and good sensitivity.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © MA Healthcare Limited. This is an author produced version of a journal article published in the Journal of Paramedic Practice. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Sensitivity and specificity; Hyperventilation syndrome; Panic attack; Emergency medical services; Diagnostic accuracy; Clinical diagnosis |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Medicine and Health (Leeds) > School of Healthcare (Leeds) > Nursing Adult (Leeds) The University of Leeds > Faculty of Medicine and Health (Leeds) > School of Psychology (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 08 Jun 2020 13:44 |
Last Modified: | 09 May 2021 00:38 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Mark Allen Healthcare |
Identification Number: | 10.12968/jpar.2020.12.11.445 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:161663 |