title: The diagnostic odds ratio: a single indicator of test performance.
abstract: Diagnostic testing can be used to discriminate subjects with a target disorder from subjects without it. Several indicators of diagnostic performance have been proposed, such as sensitivity and specificity. Using paired indicators can be a disadvantage in comparing the performance of competing tests, especially if one test does not outperform the other on both indicators. Here we propose the use of the odds ratio as a single indicator of diagnostic performance. The diagnostic odds ratio is closely linked to existing indicators, it facilitates formal meta-analysis of studies on diagnostic test performance, and it is derived from logistic models, which allow for the inclusion of additional variables to correct for heterogeneity. A disadvantage is the impossibility of weighing the true positive and false positive rate separately. In this article the application of the diagnostic odds ratio in test evaluation is illustrated.
authors: Department of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center, Post Office Box 22700, 100 DE Amsterdam, The Netherlands. a.s.glas@amc.uva.nl
authors: Afina S
authors: AS
authors: Glas
authors: Jeroen G
authors: JG
authors: Lijmer
authors: Martin H
authors: MH
authors: Prins
authors: Gouke J
authors: GJ
authors: Bonsel
authors: Patrick M M
authors: PM
authors: Bossuyt
mesh_terms: D003933:Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity