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Table 3 Descriptive statistics (n = 1270) and bivariate analysis

From: Factors associated with antibiotic prescribing for acute bronchitis at a university health center

Variable

Visits

Odds Ratio (95% CI)

Bivariatep-value

Date and Time

 visit date

1267 (99.8%)

0.99 (0.99-0.99)

p < 0.001 **

 week day

1267 (99.8%)

range 0.60-1.40

p = 0.26

 time of day

1258 (99.0%)

0.99 (0.99-1.00)

p = 0.61

Patient Characteristics

 gender

  

p = 0.07

  female (reference group)

788 (62.0%)

-

 

  male

477 (46.3%)

1.25 (0.98-1.60)

 

  not recorded

5 (0.4%)

-

 

 race

  

p = 0.20

  white (reference group)

737 (58.0%)

-

 

  multiple

117 (9.2%)

0.76 (0.48-1.17)

 

  Asian

61 (4.8%)

0.88 (0.49-1.54)

 

  black

31 (2.4%)

1.00 (0.45-2.11)

 

  Hispanic

7 (0.6%)

-

 

  international

8 (0.6%)

-

 

  Pacific islander

2 (0.1%)

-

 

  not recorded

307 (24.2%)

-

 

 academic status

  

p = 0.70

  undergraduate student (reference group)

1153 (90.8%)

-

 

  graduate student

101 (7.9%)

0.83 (0.52-1.30)

 

  spouse/dependent

4 (0.3%)

-

 

  not recorded

12 (0.9%)

-

 

 height (inches)

1242 (97.8%)

1.03 (1.00-1.07)

p = 0.04*

 weight (pounds)

1236 (97.3%)

1.00 (0.99-1.01)

p = 0.15

Visit Characteristics

 provider

1254 (98.7%)

range 0.07 -3.27

p < 0.001**

 onset duration (patient reported)

1250 (98.4%)

0.99 (0.99-1.00)

p < 0.001**

 severity (patient reported)

  

p = 0.02*

  mild (reference group)

69 (5.4%)

-

 

  moderate

381 (30.0%)

0.54 (0.32-0.95)

 

  severe

37 (2.9%)

1.20 (0.52-2.72)

 

  not recorded

783 (61.6%)

-

 

 timing (patient reported)

  

p < 0.001**

  stable/no change (reference group)

322 (25.3%)

-

 

  worsening

370 (29.1%)

2.59 (1.84-3.65)

 

  improving

176 (13.8%)

0.67 (0.40-1.09)

 

  not recorded

402 (31.6%)

-

 

 antibiotics in past month

85 (6.7%)

0.44 (0.23-0.77)

p = 0.006**

Additional Diagnosis

 URI

216 (17.0%)

0.30 (0.19-0.44)

p < 0.001**

 suspicious cough

102 (8.0%)

1.30 (0.84-1.98)

p = 0.22

 allergic rhinitis

38 (3.0%)

0.43 (0.16-0.96)

p = 0.06

 fever

19 (1.5%)

2.13 (0.84-5.31)

p = 0.10

 viral syndrome

15 (1.2%)

-

-

 tonsillitis

6 (0.4%)

-

-

 influenza

5 (0.4%)

-

-

 mononucleosis

7 (0.5%)

-

-

Common Symptoms Recorded†

 throat symptoms

   

  sore throat

459 (36.1%)

1.45 (1.13-1.86)

p = 0.003**

  painful swallowing

146 (11.5%)

0.60 (0.39-0.89)

p = 0.01*

  hoarseness

186 (14.6%)

0.84 (0.59-1.18)

p = 0.32

  swollen glands in neck

126 (9.9%)

1.19 (0.80-1.75)

p = 0.39

 systemic symptoms

  headache

272 (21.4%)

0.88 (0.65-1.18)

p = 0.40

  documented fever

73 (5.7%)

0.63 (0.39-1.04)

p = 0.06

  fever symptoms (patient reported)

285 (22.4%)

1.10 (0.83-1.46)

p = 0.51

  chills

164 (12.9%)

0.86 (0.60-1.22)

p = 0.38

  sweats

182 (14.3%)

1.02 (0.73-1.45)

p = 0.92

 nasal symptoms

  stuffy nose

782 (61.6%)

1.04 (0.81-1.33)

p = 0.76

  sinus congestion

402 (39.0%)

0.83 (0.64-1.08)

p = 0.16

  clear nasal discharge

251 (19.8%)

0.86 (0.63-1.16)

p = 0.33

  purulent nasal discharge

212 (16.7%)

0.96 (0.69-1.32)

p = 0.79

  post-nasal drip sensation

444 (35.0%)

1.10 (0.86-1.41)

p = 0.46

  sinus pain

85 (6.7%)

1.79 (1.14-2.79)

p = 0.01*

  sneezing

108 (8.5%)

0.47 (0.28-0.77)

p = 0.004**

 pulmonary symptoms

  sleep disruption due to cough

710 (55.9%)

1.08 (0.85-1.37)

p = 0.54

  sputum production

743 (58.5%)

0.94 (0.73-1.20)

p = 0.61

  shortness of breath

412 (32.4%)

0.69 (0.53-0.88)

p = 0.003**

  chest tightness

331 (26.1%)

0.82 (0.62-1.07)

p = 0.14

  wheezing

340 (26.8%)

0.64 (0.49-0.84)

p = 0.001**

  chest pain

269 (21.2%)

0.75 (0.56-0.99)

p = 0.047*

  paroxysms of cough

362 (28.5%)

0.91 (0.70-1.18)

p = 0.46

 ear symptoms

  ear pain

59 (4.6%)

1.03 (0.57-1.78)

p = 0.93

  ear pressure sensation

143 (11.2%)

0.93 (0.63-1.36)

p = 0.71

  decreased hearing

41 (3.2%)

0.96 (0.47-1.87)

p = 0.92

 GI symptoms

  loss of appetite

146 (11.5%)

0.80 (0.53-1.17)

p = 0.26

  abdominal pain

29 (2.3%)

0.26 (0.06-0.75)

p = 0.03*

  post-tussive vomiting

85 (6.7%)

0.59 (0.38-0.92)

p = 0.02*

  nausea

72 (5.7%)

0.50 (0.26-0.89)

p = 0.02*

  vomiting

58 (4.6%)

0.73 (0.38-1.32)

p = 0.32

  diarrhea

37 (2.9%)

1.27 (0.62-2.49)

p = 0.49

 neuro-vascular symptoms

  lightheadedness

59 (4.6%)

1.30 (0.74-2.24)

p = 0.33

Commonly Ordered Labs

 chest x-ray

223 (17.6%)

2.17 (1.61-2.91)

p < 0.001**

 rapid strep screen

37 (2.9%)

0.54 (0.21-1.16)

p = 0.14

 complete blood count

115 (9.0%)

1.38 (0.92-2.06)

p = 0.11

 monospot

36 (2.8%)

1.33 (0.65-2.61)

p = 0.41

 influenza A + B

19 (1.5%)

0.27 (0.04-0.95)

p = 0.08

Common Exam Findings†

 ear exam

  tympanic membrane (TM) bulging

32 (2.5%)

0.07 (0.004-0.34)

p = 0.01*

  TM retraction

48 (3.8%)

0.77 (0.38-1.46)

p = 0.44

  visible fluid behind TM

173 (13.6%)

0.18 (0.10-0.30)

p < 0.001**

  cerumen in canal

37 (2.9%)

0.64 (0.27-1.34)

p = 0.26

 nose exam

  mucosal edema

707 (55.7%)

0.83 (0.65-1.06)

p = 0.14

  mucosal erythema

606 (47.7%)

0.80 (0.63-1.02)

p = 0.07

  nasal discharge

382 (30.1%)

1.58 (1.22-2.04)

p < 0.001**

  maxillary sinus tenderness

35 (2.7%)

2.01 (1.01-3.95)

p = 0.04*

 throat exam

  erythema

240 (18.9%)

0.76 (0.55-1.04)

p = 0.09

  lymphoid hyperplasia

114 (9.0%)

1.59 (1.07-2.36)

p = 0.02*

  post-nasal drip

181 (14.2%)

1.41 (1.01-1.95)

p = 0.04*

 tonsil exam

  surgically absent

56 (4.4%)

0.93 (0.50-1.65)

p = 0.81

  erythema

97 (7.6%)

0.47 (0.27-0.79)

p = 0.006**

  enlarged

57 (4.5%)

1.10 (0.62-2.04)

p = 0.74

 lymphatics exam

  anterior cervical lymphadenopathy, tender

64 (5.0%)

1.88 (1.12-3.12)

p = 0.01*

  anterior cervical lymphadenopathy, non-tender

103 (8.1%)

0.81 (0.51-1.27)

p = 0.38

  posterior cervical lymphadenopathy, non-tender

62 (4.9%)

0.67 (0.35-1.20)

p = 0.19

  anterior cervical lymphadenopathy

132 (10.4%)

2.80 (1.94-4.04)

p < 0.001**

  posterior cervical lymphadenopathy

38 (3.0%)

1.08 (0.52-2.12)

p = 0.83

 lung exam

  wheezing

253 (19.9%)

1.82 (1.37-2.43)

p < 0.001**

  rales

22 (1.7%)

8.26 (3.24-25.27)

p < 0.001**

  rhonchi

273 (21.5%)

2.30 (1.74-3.03)

p < 0.001**

  percussion abnormality

30 (2.4%)

9.89 (4.27-26.89)

p < 0.001**

  1. † includes symptoms and findings recorded for > 20 visits