[Source: British Medical Journal, full page: (LINK). Abstract, edited.]
Research


Predictors of suppurative complications for acute sore throat in primary care: prospective clinical cohort study

<CITE><ABBR>BMJ </ABBR>2013; 347 / doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.f6867 (Published 25 November 2013) / Cite this as: <ABBR>BMJ</ABBR> 2013;347:f6867</CITE>
<CITE></CITE>
<CITE></CITE>Paul Little 1, Beth Stuart 1, F D Richard Hobbs 2, Chris C Butler 3, Alastair D Hay 4, John Campbell 5, Brendan Delaney 6, Sue Broomfield 1, Paula Barratt 1, Kerenza Hood 3, Hazel Everitt 1, Mark Mullee 1, Ian Williamson 1, David Mant 2, Michael Moore 1 on behalf of the DESCARTE investigators

Author Affiliations: <SUP>1</SUP>Primary Care and Population Sciences Division, University of Southampton, UK <SUP>2</SUP>Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK <SUP>3</SUP>Wales School of Primary Care Research, Institute of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK <SUP>4</SUP>Centre for Academic Primary Care, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, UK <SUP>5</SUP>University of Exeter Medical School. Exeter, UK <SUP>6</SUP>Department of Primary Care and Public Health Sciences, Kings College London, London, UK

Correspondence to: P Little University of Southampton, Aldermoor Health Centre, Aldermoor close, Southampton SO16 5ST, UK p.little@soton.ac.uk

Accepted 4 November 2013


Abstract

Objective

To document whether elements of a structured history and examination predict adverse outcome of acute sore throat.


Design

Prospective clinical cohort.


Setting

Primary care.


Participants

14 610 adults with acute sore throat (≤2 weeks? duration).


Main outcome measures

Common suppurative complications (quinsy or peritonsillar abscess, otitis media, sinusitis, impetigo or cellulitis) and reconsultation with new or unresolving symptoms within one month.


Results

Complications were assessed reliably (inter-rater κ=0.95). 1.3% (177/13 445) of participants developed complications overall and 14.2% (1889/13 288) reconsulted with new or unresolving symptoms. Independent predictors of complications were severe tonsillar inflammation (documented among 13.0% (1652/12 717); odds ratio 1.92, 95% confidence interval 1.28 to 2.89) and severe earache (5% (667/13 323); 3.02, 1.91 to 4.76), but the model including both variables had modest prognostic utility (bootstrapped area under the receiver operator curve 0.61, 0.57 to 0.65), and 70% of complications (124/177) occurred when neither was present. Clinical prediction rules for bacterial infection (Centor criteria and FeverPAIN) also predicted complications, but predictive values were also poor and most complications occurred with low scores (67% (118/175) scoring ≤2 for Centor; 126/173 (73%) scoring ≤2 for FeverPAIN). Previous medical problems, sex, temperature, and muscle aches were independently but weakly associated with reconsultation with new or unresolving symptoms.


Conclusion

Important suppurative complications after an episode of acute sore throat in primary care are uncommon. History and examination and scores to predict bacterial infection cannot usefully identify those who will develop complications. Clinicians will need to rely on strategies such as safety netting or delayed prescription in managing the uncertainty and low risk of complications.


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