Diagnostic performance of alarm features for predicting upper GI malignancies among patients with previous or current smoking
| Alarm features | PLR (95% CI) | NLR (95% CI) | PPV (95% CI) | NPV (95% CI) |
| Dysphagia | 15.2 (3.34 to 69.1) | 0.81 (0.59 to 1.11) | 28.6 (8.1 to 64.5) | 97.9 (97.2 to 98.5) |
| Weight loss | 5.07 (4.14 to 6.21) | 0.00 | 11.8 (9.8 to 14.0) | 100.0 |
| GI bleeding/anaemia | 8.16 (4.40 to 15.2) | 0.43 (0.20 to 0.92) | 17.6 (10.3 to 28.5) | 98.9 (97.6 to 99.5) |
| Persistent vomiting | 16.3 (4.92 to 54.0) | 0.71 (0.48 to 1.07) | 30.0 (11.5 to 58.7) | 98.2 (97.3 to 98.8) |
| Overall alarm features | 3.97 (3.34 to 4.72) | 0.00 | 9.4 (8.1 to 11.0) | 100.0 |
The PLR, NLR, PPV and NPV of individual alarm feature were calculated to discriminate between dyspeptic patients with and without upper GI malignancies.
The histopathological examination from endoscopic biopsy or surgical specimens with diagnosing upper GI malignancies served as the reference group.
GI, gastrointestinal; NLR, negative likelihood ratio; NPV, negative predictive value; PLR, positive likelihood ratio; PPV, positive predictive value.