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Table 2 Comparison of BinaxNOW-positive (pneumococcal) and -negative (non-pneumococcal) patients with serious lower respiratory tract infection (Total and Follow-Up cohorts)

From: Pneumococcal lower respiratory tract infections in adults: an observational case-control study in primary care in Belgium

 

Categories

Non-Pneumococcal SLRTI (N = 518)

Pneumococcal SLRTI (N = 26)

P value

Mean ± SD or N (%)

Mean ± SD or N (%)

Total cohort

    

Demographics

    

Age

 

55.1 ± 18.1

52.2 ± 19.2

>0.050

Age group

18-49 years

195 (37.6)

11 (42.3)

>0.050

 

50-64 years

157 (30.4)

6 (23.1)

 
 

≥65 years

166 (32.0)

9 (34.6)

 

Gender

Male

246 (47.5)

6 (23.1)

0.016

 

Female

272 (52.5)

20 (76.9)

 

Smoking status

Smoker

160 (30.9)

9 (34.6)

>0.050

 

Former smoker

115 (22.2)

4 (15.4)

 
 

Non-smoker

243 (46.9)

13 (50.0

 

Activity and revenue

Without revenue

57 (11.0)

5 (19.2)

>0.050

 

Replacement revenue

40 (7.7)

4 (15.4)

 
 

Self-employed

18 (3.5)

1 (3.8)

 
 

Manual worker

106 (20.5)

6 (23.1)

 
 

Employee

99 (19.1)

1 (3.8)

 
 

Manager

9 (1.7)

0 (0.0)

 
 

Retired

189 (36.5)

9 (34.6)

 

Exposition to young children

 

277 (53.6)

7 (26.9)

0.009

Living conditions

At home

500 (96.5)

26 (100.0)

>0.050

 

Nursing home

15 (2.9)

0 (0.0)

 
 

Institution

3 (0.6)

0 (0.0)

 

Medical history

    

Influenza vaccination

 

141 (27.2)

2 (7.7)

0.037

Pneumococcal vaccination

 

60 (11.6)

4 (15.4)

>0.050

Co-morbidities

Asthma

57 (11.0)

6 (23.1)

>0.050

 

Chronic bronchitis

55 (10.6)

6 (23.1)

>0.050

 

Diabetes

42 (8.1)

3 (11.5)

>0.050

 

Renal insufficiency

28 (5.4)

4 (15.4)

>0.050

 

COPD

83 (16.0)

11 (42.3)

0.002

 

Cardiovascular illness

92 (17.8)

4 (15.4)

>0.050

 

Immunological illness

6 (1.2)

1 (3.8)

>0.050

Allergy to antibiotics

 

41 (7.9)

1 (3.8)

>0.050

Clinical symptoms

    

Body temperature taken by the physician (°C)

 

38.2 ± 0.9

38.9 ± 0.6

<0.0001

Body temperature taken by the patient (°C)

 

38.9 ± 0.5

39.0 ± 0.1

>0.050

Breaths per minute

 

21.5 ± 7.2

27.1 ± 6.2

0.001

Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)

 

128 ± 57

111 ± 18

<0.0001

Diastolic blood pressure

 

77 ± 9.2

74 ± 9.1

>0.050

Cough

 

507 (97.9)

26 (100.0)

>0.050

Sputum

 

399 (77.0)

25 (96.2)

0.026

Shortness of breath

 

341 (65.8)

19 (73.1)

>0.050

Wheezing

 

227 (43.8)

10 (38.5)

>0.050

Coryza

 

34 (6.6)

0 (0.0)

>0.050

Breath sounds

 

417 (80.5)

22 (84.6)

>0.050

Chest pain

 

286 (55.2)

22 (84.6)

0.004

Muscle ache

 

314 (60.6)

21 (80.8)

0.040

Headache

 

282 (54.4)

18 (69.2)

>0.050

Disturbed sleep

 

284 (54.8)

17 (65.4)

>0.050

Feeling unwell

 

433 (83.6)

23 (88.5)

>0.050

Shivers

 

241 (46.5)

16 (61.5)

>0.050

Interference with normal activity

 

351 (67.8)

21 (80.8)

>0.050

Confusion/disorientation

 

40 (7.7)

8 (30.8)

0.001

Diarrhoea

 

55 (10.6)

11 (42.3)

<0.0001

CRB-65 score

0 (best)

292 (56.4)

11 (42.3)

>0.050

 

1

156 (30.1)

6 (23.1)

 
 

2

61 (11.8)

5 (19.2)

 
 

3 (worst)

9 (1.7)

4 (15.4)

 

Diagnostic tests

    

X-ray radiography

 

44 (8.5)

5 (19.2)

>0.050

X-ray signs

No signs

9 (1.7)

0 (0.0)

>0.050

 

Lobar consolidation

7 (1.4)

2 (7.7)

>0.050

 

Infiltrate

22 (4.2)

4 (15.4)

0.030

Pleural effusion

 

2 (7.4)

0 (0.0)

>0.050

Blood culture

 

2 (0.4)

1 (3.8)

>0.050

Tentative diagnosis

Acute bronchitis

288 (55.6)

1 (3.8)

<0.0001

 

Bronchopneumonia

87 (16.8)

11 (42.3)

 
 

Pneumonia

70 (13.5)

6 (23.1)

 
 

COPD exacerbation

73 (14.1)

8 (30.8)

 

Treatment

    

Pharmacological treatment

 

511 (98.6)

25 (96.2)

>0.050

 

Antibiotics

462 (89.2)

24 (92.3)

>0.050

 

Antipyretics

405 (78.2)

18 (69.2)

>0.050

 

NSAIDs

23 (4.4)

1 (3.8)

>0.050

 

Corticosteroids

83 (16.0)

7 (26.9)

>0.050

 

Bronchodilators

130 (25.1)

5 (19.2)

>0.050

 

Antitussives

240 (46.3)

17 (65.4)

>0.050

 

Low weight heparin

5 (1.0)

1 (3.8)

>0.050

 

N-acetylcysteine

98 (18.9)

2 (7.7)

>0.050

Non-pharmacological treatment

 

29 (5.6)

5 (19.2)

0.018

 

Oxygen

8 (1.5)

1 (3.8)

>0.050

 

Physiotherapy

25 (4.8)

5 (19.2)

0.010

Sick leave

 

220 (42.5)

11 (42.3)

>0.050

Supplementary home care

 

14 (2.7)

1 (3.8)

>0.050

Hospitalisation

 

6 (1.2)

2 (7.7)

>0.050

Functional status

    

EQ-5D index

 

0.62 ± 0.28

0.35 ± 0.35

<0.0001

EQ-5D visual analogue scale (mm)

 

52 ± 17

44 ± 22

0.039

Follow-up cohort

    

Visits to GPs

 

1.27 ± 1.30

2.44 ± 1.36

0.001

Working days lost

 

3.49 ± 4.83

9.56 ± 9.46

<0.0001

Number of days patients needed assistance

 

2.14 ± 6.34

6.64 ± 9.70

0.014

  1. SD = Standard Deviation; COPD = Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; °C = Celsius degree; mmHg = millimetre of mercury; CRB-65 = Confusion, Respiratory rate, Blood Pressure and Age ≥65 years [16, 17]; NSAID = Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug; EQ-5D index (http://www.euroqol.org/ and reference [18]); GP = General Practitioner; P value = statistical probability of Mann-Whitney, Chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests as appropriate. Statistical significance for p values <0.00075 (Bonferroni’s correction for the multiplicity of analyses)