[Validation of an acute bronchiolitis severity scale].

INTRODUCTION

Acute bronchiolitis (AB) is a very common disease, with a high rate of seasonal hospitalization. Its management requires homogeneous clinical interpretations for which there are different approaches depending on the scales, none of which are properly validated today.

OBJECTIVE

To create an AB severity scale (ABSS) and to validate it.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: The development of a parameterized construct with a gradual cumulative score of respiratory rate, heart rate, respiratory effort, auscultation of wheezing and crackles, and the inspiration/expiration ratio. Also, the validation of the ABSS performed on patients diagnosed with AB, the reliability measured by observing the behavior of internal consistency, test-retest, external validity and inter-observer agreement.

RESULTS

From a total of 290 measurements a Cronbach's reliability alpha of 0.83 was obtained; Kappa agreement index of 0.93 in the test-retest agreement, and Kappa index of 0.682 (α<0.05) for inter-observer agreement.

CONCLUSIONS

The ABSS can be a reliable tool for measuring the severity of AB.