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Chest X‐rays in hypersensitivity pneumonitis: A metaanalysis of secular trend
Author(s) -
Hodgson Michael J.,
Parkinson David K.,
Karpf Michael
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.4700160106
Subject(s) - medicine , hypersensitivity pneumonitis , disease , interstitial lung disease , pneumonia , population , occupational disease , epidemiology , lung disease , intensive care medicine , lung , radiology , pathology , environmental health
Abstract A metaanalysis of published reports of outbreaks of hypersensitivity pneumonitis was undertaken. A statistically significant substantial decline was seen in the sensitivity of chest X‐rays (percent of positive in cases of disease) for the diagnosis of hypersensitivity pneumonitis over the years 1950–1980. Chest X‐rays were also less likely to be abnormal where a population‐based approach to the diagnosis of disease had been undertaken. Such declines in the diagnostic “sensitivity” of a test may be related to secular trends in knowledge and recognition of disease or to changes in the disease itself. Standardization of chest X‐ray interpretation alone, even if successful, may not resolve the issue of accurate diagnosis of interstitial lung disease.