Table 1 Patient characteristics and findings in primary care patients with acute cough categorized by CRP ¹ testing

Male

29

(28)

20

(26)

0.7

Current smokers

28

(27)

16

(21)

0.3

Pre-existing illness:

Pulmonary diseases

15

(15)

14

(18)

0.7

Heart diseases

17

(17)

3

(4)

0.007

Diabetes

5

(5)

3

(4)

1.0

Any comorbidity

55

(54)

39

(50)

0.6

Symptoms²:

Cough

60

(59)

48

(62)

0.9

Sputum

20

(20)

21

(27)

0.3

Discoloured sputum

56

(57)

49

(63)

0.4

Shortness of breath

9

(9)

11

(14)

0.3

Wheeze (reported)

9

(9)

17

(22)

0.02

Coryza

19

(19)

9

(12)

0.2

Fever (history of)

31

(31)

26

(33)

0.7

Chest pain

5

(5)

5

(6)

0.7

Muscle aches

13

(13)

2

(3)

0.01

Headache

19

(19)

4

(5)

0.07

Disturbed sleep

10

(10)

4

(5)

0.3

Feeling unwell

47

(46)

15

(19)

0.0001

Interference with daily activities

44

(43)

15

(19)

0.0007

Symptom severity³

44

43

0.4

(27–63)

(29–69)

Findings:

Diminished breath sounds

29

(29)

30

(38)

0.2

Wheezes

21

(21)

19

(24)

0.6

Crackles

3

(3)

2

(3)

1.0

Rhonchi

7

(7)

3

(4)

0.5

Any abnormal lung sound

60

(59)

54

(69)

0.2

Temperature ≥ 37.2°C

51

(50)

49

(63)

0.1

CRP ≥ 20 and < 50 mg/L

13

(13)

CRP ≥ 50 mg/L

7

(7)

Perceived patient preference for antibiotics³

10

(10)

18

(23)

0.02