Youden J index | AUC | 95% CI | Cut-off BEC threshold cells·µL−1 | p-value | Sensitivity | Specificity | PPV | NPV | dACC | |
All patients | 0.23 | 0.62 | 0.51–0.72 | 237 | 0.026 | 0.41 | 0.82 | 0.50 | 0.75 | 0.69 |
Patients with asthma or NAEB | ||||||||||
Asthma/NAEB | 0.34 | 0.68 | 0.55–0.81 | 150 | 0.005 | 0.75 | 0.59 | 0.53 | 0.79 | 0.65 |
Asthma/NAEB/UACS | 0.25 | 0.63 | 0.52–0.74 | 171 | 0.019 | 0.58 | 0.68 | 0.49 | 0.75 | 0.64 |
ICS/ICS+LABA therapy | 0.37 | 0.69 | 0.56–0.82 | 150 | 0.005 | 0.74 | 0.63 | 0.57 | 0.78 | 0.67 |
ICS/ICS+LABA/ICS+LABA+LTRA therapy | 0.34 | 0.68 | 0.55–0.81 | 150 | 0.005 | 0.75 | 0.59 | 0.53 | 0.79 | 0.65 |
Patients with other causes of chronic cough | ||||||||||
UACS | 0.33 | 0.64 | 0.49–0.80 | 319 | 0.070 | |||||
GER | 0.17 | 0.53 | 0.37–0.69 | 259 | 0.680 | |||||
BHR+# | 0.26 | 0.58 | 0.41–0.74 | 150 | 0.378 |
CI: confidence interval; AUC: area under the receiver operating curve; BEC: blood eosinophil count; PPV: positive predictive value; NPV: negative predictive value; dACC: diagnostic accuracy; NAEB: non-asthmatic eosinophilic bronchitis; UACS: upper airway cough syndrome; GER: gastro-oesophageal reflux; BHR+: presence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness; ICS: inhaled corticosteroids; LABA: long-acting β2-agonist; LTRA: leukotriene receptor antagonist. #: methacholine provocation challenge was performed in 122 (85.9%) patients.