Powered by OpenAIRE graph
Found an issue? Give us feedback
image/svg+xml art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos Open Access logo, converted into svg, designed by PLoS. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Open_Access_logo_PLoS_white.svg art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos http://www.plos.org/ PubMed Centralarrow_drop_down
image/svg+xml art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos Open Access logo, converted into svg, designed by PLoS. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Open_Access_logo_PLoS_white.svg art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos http://www.plos.org/
PubMed Central
Article . 2026
Data sources: PubMed Central
image/svg+xml Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao Closed Access logo, derived from PLoS Open Access logo. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Closed_Access_logo_transparent.svg Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao
Statistics in Medicine
Article . 2026 . Peer-reviewed
License: Wiley Online Library User Agreement
Data sources: Crossref
https://dx.doi.org/10.13016/m2...
Other literature type . 2026
Data sources: Datacite
versions View all 4 versions
addClaim

Testing and Quantifying Site‐Level Variability in Diagnostic Sensitivity of an Anchor Variable

Authors: Seungchul Baek; Yanyuan Ma; Tanya P. Garcia;

Testing and Quantifying Site‐Level Variability in Diagnostic Sensitivity of an Anchor Variable

Abstract

ABSTRACT In multi‐site clinical research, diagnostic assessments can vary across sites even when standardized criteria and instruments are used, leading to inconsistent disease classification. This issue is examined in settings with an anchor variable that confidently identifies disease when positive but provides no information when negative. A random effects model is introduced for site‐specific sensitivity, along with likelihood‐based methods for estimation and hypothesis testing. The approach addresses two objectives: testing whether diagnostic sensitivity varies across sites, and quantifying the magnitude of such variability. Validation data is incorporated to establish parameter identifiability. Laplace approximation and the Expectation‐Maximization (EM) algorithm are further engaged to address the computational challenge caused by an intractable integral in the likelihood function. Likelihood ratio and score tests are constructed to account for the boundary constraint that arises when the null hypothesis places the variance component at zero. Simulation studies demonstrate the good performance in finite samples, with accurate parameter estimates and appropriate test size and power. Application to a multi‐site Huntington disease cohort for diagnosing mild cognitive impairment reveals differences in diagnostic sensitivity across sites, with tests providing strong evidence of heterogeneity. This framework offers a principled approach for testing and quantifying site‐level variability in diagnostic sensitivity, supporting more consistent inference in multi‐site studies.

Keywords

mixed models, Likelihood Functions, Models, Statistical, Huntington disease, Sensitivity and Specificity, Article, Huntington Disease, mild cognitive impairment, Humans, Multicenter Studies as Topic, Computer Simulation, Cognitive Dysfunction, Laplace approximation, variance component, Algorithms

  • BIP!
    Impact byBIP!
    selected citations
    These citations are derived from selected sources.
    This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
    0
    popularity
    This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
    Average
    influence
    This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
    Average
    impulse
    This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
    Average
Powered by OpenAIRE graph
Found an issue? Give us feedback
selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
Average
Average
Green