Van Vugt et al evaluated patients in primary care with an acute cough for evidence of pneumonia. A nomogram was provided as an appendix in addition to the simple score discussed in the paper. The authors are from University Medical Center Utrecht, University of Antwerp, Cardiff University and University of Southhampton.
Patient selection: adult with acute cough
Outcome: pneumonia
Parameters:
(1) runny nose
(2) breathlessness
(3) vesicular breathing
(4) crackles on auscultation
(5) pulse in beats per minute
(6) temperature in °C
(7) serum CRP in mg/L
Parameter
Finding
Points
runny nose
no
18.8
yes
0
breathlessness
no
0
yes
11.9
vesicular breathing
normal or increased
0
diminished
32.5
crackles
no
0
yes
77
pulse
<= 100 per minute
0
> 100 per minute
52.5
temperature
<= 37.8°C
0
> 37.8°C (fever)
53.5
serum CRP
<= 30 mg/L
0
> 30 mg/L
80
total score =
= SUM(points for all 7 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 326.2
• The higher the score the greater the risk of pneumonia.