Walter S D, Sinuff T
Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, 1200 Main Street West, HSC-2C16, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8N 3Z5.
J Clin Epidemiol. 2007 May;60(5):530-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2006.09.002. Epub 2006 Dec 18.
To develop an approach by which studies describing the accuracy of diagnostic tests or clinical predictions can be combined in a meta-analysis, even though studies may report their results using different summary measures.
A method is proposed to allow algebraic and numerical conversion of values of the Receiver Operating Characteristic Area Under the Curve (AUC) summary statistic into corresponding odds ratios (OR). A similar conversion is demonstrated for the standard errors (SEs) of these summary statistics.
The conversion of the AUC values into OR values was achieved using a logit-threshold model. The delta method was used to convert the associated SEs. An example concerning predictions of mortality in the intensive care unit illustrates the calculations.
This paper provides an accessible method that permits the meta-analyst to overcome some of the difficulties implied by incomplete and inconsistent reporting of research studies in this area. It allows all studies to be included on the same metric, which in turn more easily permits exploration of issues such as heterogeneity. The method can readily be used for meta-analyses of diagnostic or screening tests, or for prediction data.
开发一种方法，通过该方法，即使研究可能使用不同的汇总指标报告其结果，也能够将描述诊断试验准确性或临床预测的研究纳入荟萃分析。
提出一种方法，允许将曲线下面积（AUC）汇总统计量的值进行代数和数值转换为相应的比值比（OR）。对这些汇总统计量的标准误（SE）也进行了类似的转换。
使用对数阈值模型将AUC值转换为OR值。采用德尔塔法转换相关的标准误。一个关于重症监护病房死亡率预测的例子说明了计算过程。
本文提供了一种易于理解的方法，使荟萃分析者能够克服该领域研究报告不完整和不一致所带来的一些困难。它允许所有研究采用相同的指标，进而更容易探讨异质性等问题。该方法可轻松用于诊断或筛查试验的荟萃分析，或预测数据的分析。
