EVALUATION OF AN ASTHMA SEVERITY SCORE

Objective: To evaluate inter-observer agreement and validity of an ast hma severity score derived from wheeze, heart rate and accessory muscl e use components. Methodology: Children with acute asthma were examine d independently and simultaneously by two observers, followed by pulse oximetry and spirometry in those over 5 years with repeatable measure ments. Results: Inter-observer agreement was very good (weighted kappa 0.82, 95% confidence interval 0.63 to 1.00), the component with the b est agreement being the accessory muscle score (0.76, 0.57 to 0.95). T he score correlated significantly with oxygen saturation, heart rate, and forced expiratory volume in Is (FEV1). In a multivariate model, FE V1 was best related to accessory muscle use. Conclusions: The asthma s everity score has very good inter-observer agreement with a moderate r elationship to oxygenation and FEV1.