Table 2

Measures of test accuracy reported in review of diagnostic literature (1994–2000)

Time periods

Measures of test accuracy

1994–1997

1998–2000

n

% (95% confidence interval)⁺

n

% (95% confidence interval⁺

p-value^**

Included primary studies

50^*

40^*

Sensitivity or specificity

35

70 (55–82)

30^a

75 (59–87)

0.77

Predictive values

13^b

26 (15–40)

13^c

33 (19–49)

0.66

Sensitivity, specificity and predictive values

12

24 (13–38)

12

30 (17–47)

0.69

Likelihood ratios

9

18(9–31)

11

28 (15–44)

0.41

Diagnostic odds ratios

0

0 (0–7)

0

(0–9)

-

Meta-analysis

38^*

76(62–87)

22^*

55 (38–71)

0.16

Independently pooled sensitivity or specificity

22

58 (41–74)

13^d

62 (36–79)

0.86

Pooled predictive values

9^e

24(11–40)

2^f

10(1–29)

0.29

Pooled likelihood ratios

5

13 (4–28)

8

38 (17–59)

0.08

Pooled diagnostic odds ratios

5

13 (4–28)

0

0(0–15)

0.20

Summary ROC plot or values

23

61 (43–76)

11

52 (28–72)

0.60

^* numbers do not add up to totals because some reviews used more than one measures of accuracy; ^** chi sq. test with Yates' correction; ⁺ Exact (Clopper-Pearson) 95% confidence interval a includes study that only reported either sensitivity or specificity; b,c. includes study that only reported either positive or negative predictive value; d includes meta-analyses that only reported either pooled sensitivity or specificity; e,f. includes meta-analyses that only reported either pooled positive or negative predictive values

Honest and Khan BMC Health Services Research 2002 2:4   doi:10.1186/1472-6963-2-4