만성 기침의 진단 성적과 경제적 접근 모델

Background : Despite the clinical clues of bronchial asthma, some chronic coughers fail to be diagnosed due to negative test results. This study was aimed at evaluating the diagnostic performance of routine objective tests and identifying a cost-effective approach for asthmatics with a chronic cough. Methods : Patients with a chronic cough of more than 3 weeks duration, and showing normal chest radiograph and spirometry were enrolled. On the first visit, objective tests, composed of serum total IgE, peripheral blood eosinophil count, spontaneous sputum eosinophil count, methacholine bronchial provocation test (MBPT) and paranasal sinus radiograph, were performed, with the simultaneous administration of oral prednisolone (0.5mg/kg) for one week. The final diagnoses were made on the basis of the test results, and the patients grouped according to their steroid responsiveness. The role of the etiologic diagnosis tests was evaluated, and the medical costs of the final management plan simulated with respect to three assumed models. Results : Sixty chronic coughers were finally analyzed. The final diagnoses were as follows: bronchial asthma 21.7%, eosinophilic bronchitis 6.7%, paranasal sinusitis 18.3%, presumptive allergy 8.3% and non-diagnostic case 45.0%. Ninety percent were steroid responder. With the bronchial asthma cases, the positive rate of MBPT was 38.5%, with sputum eosinophil count in 84.6%, serum total IgE in 38.5%, and a peripheral blood eosinophil count rate of 30.8%. When the test results and steroid responsiveness data were applied to the 3 models, the chest radiograph, spirometry, sputum eosinophil count and paranasal sinus radiograph test results, and simultaneous short term steroid treatment seemed to have acceptable diagnostic performances, which could be used as a further guide to cost-effective planning. Conclusion : Objective tests, composed of chest radiograph, spirometry, paranasal sinus radiograph and sputum eosinophil count, with simultaneous short term steroid treatment, are suggested as cost-effective approaches for asthmatics with a chronic cough. 연구배경 : 본 연구는 만성 기침 환자의 원인 진단을 위하여 흔히 사용되는 검사의 진단 성적을 알아보고, 이들에 대한 경제적 진료모델을 구축하기 위하여 시행하였다. 방 법 : 3주 이상의 만성 기침 환자를 대상으로 첫 내원일에 혈청 총 IgE, 말초혈액 호산구, 객담 호산구, 메타콜린 기관지유발검사, 부비동 촬영을 시행하는 동시에 prednisolone 0.5mg/kg를 7일간 경구 투약하고 추적 방문토록 하였다. 추적일에 환자 증상의 개선도에 따라 스테로이드 반응군과 불응군으로 분류하고 검사의 진단성적을 조사하였다. 조사된 환자 검사 결과와 스테로이드 반응률을 근거로 만성 기침 환자를 진료하는데 소요되는 의료 비용을 가상적인 3가지 진료 모델에 대입하여 비교하였다. 결 과 : 60명의 만성