Khalid et al reported the Tuberculosis Risk Score for Smokers (TBRSS) to identify a smoker with tuberculosis. This can help to identify a patient to investigate further. The authors are from Universiti Sains Malaysia and Bachok District Health Office in Malaysia.
Patient selection: smoker
Parameters:
(1) duration of smoking in years
(2) previous history of tuberculosis
(3) presence of any cough
(4) presence of significant night sweats
(5) significant weight loss (not specified)
(6) duration of any symptoms in weeks
Parameter
Finding
Points
duration of smoking
< 10 years
1
>= 10 years
3
history of tuberculosis
no
1
yes
3
cough
no
1
yes
2
night sweats
no
1
yes
15
weight loss
no
1
yes
10
duration of symptoms
<= 2 weeks
1
> 2 weeks
10
total score =
= SUM(points for all of the parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 6
• maximum score: 43
• A score >= 16 has a sensitivity of 91% and specificity of 78% for tuberculosis.
NOTE: Cancer could also cause a high score, especially lung cancer.
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