A primer of biostatistic and economic methods for diagnostic and prognostic modeling in nuclear cardiology: Part I.

This review presents a brief overview of existing diagnostic and prognostic methodologies to be used for the evaluation of patients undergoing noninvasive testing. In part I of this review, we will present methods for use of logistic and Cox regression analyses in determining the diagnostic and prognostic value of nuclear imaging techniques. In part II of this review, we will present an outline for the integration of economic evaluations into the clinical decision-making process. This review will document how cost estimates may be defined as well as the differing type of cost analyses (i.e., cost efficiency versus cost-effectiveness).