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Likelihood ratios, sensitivity, and specificity values can be back-calculated when the odds ratios are known.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Simel, DL; Easter, J; Tomlinson, G
Published in: J Clin Epidemiol
April 2013

OBJECTIVE: To provide a solution for calculating the true-positive, false-positive, false-negative, and true-negative results from studies where only the odds ratios (ORs), number of patients with the finding, and number of patients with the target condition are given. RESULTS: The quadratic formula shown here allows investigators conducting systematic reviews to back-calculate the sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios (LRs) from the OR. A spreadsheet that requires only the OR, and the row and column total from the 2 × 2 table enables the back-calculation of the individual true positives, false positives, false negatives, and true negatives. Solutions are also available for the special situations when the OR = 1 or the OR is nonestimable because of zero false positives or false negatives. CONCLUSIONS: A simple spreadsheet enables those conducting systematic reviews of diagnostic tests to include studies that report only the OR. This approach should enrich the number of studies retained in meta-analyses of diagnostic tests where the desire is to create summary sensitivity, specificity, or LRs.

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Published In

J Clin Epidemiol

DOI

EISSN

1878-5921

Publication Date

April 2013

Volume

66

Issue

4

Start / End Page

458 / 460

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Software
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Odds Ratio
  • Meta-Analysis as Topic
  • Likelihood Functions
  • Humans
  • False Positive Reactions
  • False Negative Reactions
  • Epidemiology
  • Data Interpretation, Statistical
 

Citation

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Simel, D. L., Easter, J., & Tomlinson, G. (2013). Likelihood ratios, sensitivity, and specificity values can be back-calculated when the odds ratios are known. J Clin Epidemiol, 66(4), 458–460. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2012.07.014
Simel, David L., Joshua Easter, and George Tomlinson. “Likelihood ratios, sensitivity, and specificity values can be back-calculated when the odds ratios are known.J Clin Epidemiol 66, no. 4 (April 2013): 458–60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2012.07.014.
Simel DL, Easter J, Tomlinson G. Likelihood ratios, sensitivity, and specificity values can be back-calculated when the odds ratios are known. J Clin Epidemiol. 2013 Apr;66(4):458–60.
Simel, David L., et al. “Likelihood ratios, sensitivity, and specificity values can be back-calculated when the odds ratios are known.J Clin Epidemiol, vol. 66, no. 4, Apr. 2013, pp. 458–60. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.jclinepi.2012.07.014.
Simel DL, Easter J, Tomlinson G. Likelihood ratios, sensitivity, and specificity values can be back-calculated when the odds ratios are known. J Clin Epidemiol. 2013 Apr;66(4):458–460.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Clin Epidemiol

DOI

EISSN

1878-5921

Publication Date

April 2013

Volume

66

Issue

4

Start / End Page

458 / 460

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Software
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Odds Ratio
  • Meta-Analysis as Topic
  • Likelihood Functions
  • Humans
  • False Positive Reactions
  • False Negative Reactions
  • Epidemiology
  • Data Interpretation, Statistical