Academic Journal

Accuracy of physicians' intuitive risk estimation in the diagnostic management of pulmonary embolism:An Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis

Bibliographic Details
Title: Accuracy of physicians' intuitive risk estimation in the diagnostic management of pulmonary embolism:An Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis
Authors: Maanen, Rosanne van, Martens,Emily S L, Takada, Toshihiko, Roy,Pierre-Marie, de Wit,Kerstin, Parpia,Sameer, Kraaijpoel,Noémie, Huisman,Menno V, Wells,Philip S, Le Gal,Grégoire, Righini,Marc, Freund,Yonathan, Galipienzo,Javier, van Es,Nick, Blom,Jeanet W, Moons, Karel G M, Rutten, Frans H, Smeden, Maarten van, Klok,Frederikus A, Geersing, Geert-Jan, Luijken, Kim, HAG Trombose, Epi Methoden, Cancer, JC onderzoeksprogramma Methodology, HAG Hart- Vaatziekten, Circulatory Health, JC onderzoeksprogramma Cardiovascular Health, Epi Methoden Team 3, Infection & Immunity
Publication Year: 2023
Subject Terms: diagnosis, pulmonary embolism, venous thromboembolism, venous thrombosis, Hematology, Journal Article
Description: BACKGROUND: In patients clinically suspected of having pulmonary embolism (PE), physicians often rely on intuitive estimation ("gestalt") of PE presence. Although shown to be predictive, gestalt is criticized for its assumed variation across physicians and lack of standardization. OBJECTIVES: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of gestalt in the diagnosis of PE and gain insight into its possible variation. METHODS: We performed an individual patient data meta-analysis including patients suspected of having PE. The primary outcome was diagnostic accuracy of gestalt for the diagnosis of PE, quantified as risk ratio (RR) between gestalt and PE based on 2-stage random-effect log-binomial meta-analysis regression as well as gestalts' sensitivity and specificity. The variability of these measures was explored across different health care settings, publication period, PE prevalence, patient subgroups (sex, heart failure, chronic lung disease, and items of the Wells score other than gestalt), and age. RESULTS: We analyzed 20 770 patients suspected of having PE from 16 original studies. The prevalence of PE in patients with and without a positive gestalt was 28.8% vs 9.1%, respectively. The overall RR was 3.02 (95% CI, 2.35-3.87), and the overall sensitivity and specificity were 74% (95% CI, 68%-79%) and 61% (95% CI, 53%-68%), respectively. Although variation was observed across individual studies (I 2, 90.63%), the diagnostic accuracy was consistent across all subgroups and health care settings. CONCLUSION: A positive gestalt was associated with a 3-fold increased risk of PE in suspected patients. Although variation was observed across studies, the RR of gestalt was similar across prespecified subgroups and health care settings, exemplifying its diagnostic value for all patients suspected of having PE.
Document Type: article in journal/newspaper
File Description: text/plain
Language: English
ISSN: 1538-7933
Relation: https://dspace.library.uu.nl/handle/1874/449441
Availability: https://dspace.library.uu.nl/handle/1874/449441
Rights: info:eu-repo/semantics/OpenAccess
Accession Number: edsbas.A5A3D866
Database: BASE
Description
ISSN:15387933