Meta-Analysis: The Value of Clinical Assessment in the Diagnosis of Deep Venous Thrombosis

View larger version (37K): [in a new window]   Figure 1. Flow diagram of studies considered for the review. * = 0.85. = 0.86.

View larger version (34K): [in a new window]   Figure 2. Meta-analysis estimates of diagnostic value of clinical features of deep venous thrombosis (DVT).

View this table: [in a new window]   Appendix Table 1. Characteristics of Cohorts Included in the Meta-Analysis

View larger version (14K): [in a new window]   Figure 3. Post-test probability of deep venous thrombosis after high or low Wells scores as a function of pretest probability (population prevalence of deep venous thrombosis).

View larger version (32K): [in a new window]   Figure 4. Performance of the Wells clinical risk score for detecting all episodes of deep venous thrombosis. Two results are plotted from each study of the Wells score on the receiver-operating characteristic plane. Circles represent use of a high versus intermediate and low decision threshold (that is, only persons categorized as at high risk receive a diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis). Triangles represent a high and intermediate versus low decision threshold (that is, persons categorized as at high or intermediate risk receive a diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis). The point estimates and 95% CIs for pooled sensitivity and specificity for the 2 thresholds are also plotted as boxes.

View this table: [in a new window]   Appendix Table 2. Results of Summary Receiver-Operating Characteristic Curve Analysis Examining How Each Covariate Individually Influenced the Shape of the Curve