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Table 1 Results of subgroup analyses and bivariate meta-regression for identifying covariates to explain heterogeneity in the pooled sensitivity and specificity of chest radiography or ultrasound for detection of pneumothoraces among adults

From: Thoracic ultrasonography versus chest radiography for detection of pneumothoraces: challenges in deriving and interpreting summary diagnostic accuracy estimates

Covariate

Bivariate random-effects model

 

Pooled sensitivity (95% CI)a

I2statistic

Sensitivity meta-regression P value

Pooled specificity (95% CI)b

I2statistic

Specificity meta-regression P value

Joint P valuec

Chest radiography

       

Patient enrollment

       

Consecutive

49% (30 to 68%)

88%

0.13

100% (95 to 100%)

93%

0.01

0.33

Nonconsecutive

33% (22 to 46%)

85%

 

100% (98 to 100%)

82%

  

Patient type

       

Trauma

27% (0 to 56%)

NAd

0.62

98% (93 to 100%)

NAd

0.54

0.02

Nontrauma

40% (28 to 53%)

89%

 

100% (99 to 100%)

   

Thoracic ultrasonography

      

Patient enrollment

       

Consecutive

90% (69 to 97%)

96%

0.93

99% (97 to 100%)

93%

0.59

0.41

Nonconsecutive

82% (67 to 91%)

91%

 

98% (96 to 99%)

   

Patient type

       

Trauma

79% (48 to 100%)

NAd

0.65

94% (88 to 100%)

NAd

<0.01

0.07

Nontrauma

87% (73 to 94%)

95%

 

99% (98 to 100%)

85%

  

Operator type

       

Emergency MD

90% (76 to 96%)

97%

0.73

99% (97 to 100%)

88%

0.67

0.19

Nonemergency MD

80% (61 to 91%)

87%

 

97% (95 to 99%)

79%

  

Ultrasound probe type

       

Linear array

82% (61 to 93%)

94%

0.23

99% (96 to 100%)

87%

0.29

0.68

Nonlinear array

89% (72 to 96%)

91%

 

98% (96 to 99%)

85%

  
  1. CI, confidence interval; MD, medical doctor or physician. aP value for hypothesis test comparing pooled sensitivities. bP value for hypothesis test comparing pooled specificities. cP value for hypothesis test comparing diagnostic accuracy. dNot available due to the inability to estimate secondary to the small number (n?=?2) of nontrauma studies.