To the Editor: We note with interest the recent commentary by Cretikos et al on the predictive value of a high respiratory rate for adverse outcomes.1 We wish to provide empirical evidence from Australian patients with pneumonia in support of their view that simple clinical parameters are good predictors of adverse outcomes.
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- 1 Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, NT.
- 2 Nossal Institute for Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC.
- 3 Victorian Infectious Diseases Service, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, VIC.
Correspondence: allenc@menzies.edu.au
- 1. Cretikos MA, Bellomo R, Hillman K, et al. Respiratory rate: the neglected vital sign. Med J Aust 2008; 188: 657-659. <MJA full text>
- 2. Buising KL, Thursky KA, Black JF, et al. A prospective comparison of severity scores for identifying patients with severe community acquired pneumonia: reconsidering what is meant by severe pneumonia. Thorax 2006; 61: 419-424.
- 3. Buising KL, Thursky KA, Black JF, et al. Identifying severe community-acquired pneumonia in the emergency department: a simple clinical prediction tool. Emerg Med Australas 2007; 19: 418-426.
- 4. Fine MJ, Auble TE, Yealy DM, et al. A prediction rule to identify low-risk patients with community-acquired pneumonia. N Engl J Med 1997; 336: 243-250.
- 5. Maxwell DJ, McIntosh KA, Pulver LK, Easton KL. Empiric management of community-acquired pneumonia in Australian emergency departments. Med J Aust 2005; 183: 520-524. <MJA full text>
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