title: Diagnostic accuracy of self-reported arthritis in the general adult population is acceptable.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To summarize the diagnostic accuracy of self-reported osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and arthritis (i.e., unspecified) in the general adult population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic literature search identified studies reporting diagnostic data on self-reported diagnosis of OA, RA, or arthritis in adults in population-based or primary care samples. Index tests included any form of participant-reported presence of the condition. Reference tests included rheumatologist, physician, or health professional examination; medical record review; physician interview; laboratory tests; or radiography. Relevant articles were scored using the QUADAS tool. Diagnostic values were summarized using pooled estimates for sensitivity and specificity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The search strategy identified 16 articles: 11 for OA, 5 for RA, and 4 for arthritis. Four of 16 articles scored high on quality. The pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.75 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.56, 0.88] and 0.89 (95% CI: 0.77, 0.95) for OA, 0.88 (95% CI: 0.59, 0.97) and 0.93 (95% CI: 0.66, 0.99) for RA, and 0.71 (95% CI: 0.59, 0.80) and 0.79 (95% CI: 0.65, 0.89) for arthritis. There were not enough studies to conduct meta-analyses for joint-specific OA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The accuracy of self-reported OA and RA is acceptable for large-scale studies in which rheumatologist examination is not feasible. More high-quality studies are required to confirm the accuracy of self-reported arthritis and joint-specific OA.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Longitudinal and Life-course Research, School of Population Health, The University of Queensland, Public Health Building, Herston Road, Herston, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia; Centre for Research in Exercise, Physical Activity and Health, School of Human Movement Studies, The University of Queensland, Building 26b Blair Drive, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia. Electronic address: g.peeters@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: G M E E Geeske
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Peeters
authors.affiliation: Centre for Longitudinal and Life-course Research, School of Population Health, The University of Queensland, Public Health Building, Herston Road, Herston, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia.
authors.forename: Mohamad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alshurafa
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands; EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Centre, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schaap
authors.affiliation: EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Centre, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, VU University Medical Centre, De Boelelaan 117, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Henrica C W
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: de Vet
mesh_terms: D001168:Arthritis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D057566:Self Report / Q000592:standards*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
keywords: Diagnosis; Meta-analysis; Osteoarthritis; Rheumatoid arthritis; Sensitivity and specificity; Validity