RT Journal Article
T1 Meta-DiSc 2.0: a web application for meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy data
A1 Plana, Nieves
A1 Arevalo-Rodriguez, Ingrid
A1 Fernández-García, Silvia
A1 Soto, Javier
A1 Fabregate, Martíin
A1 Pérez Pérez, Teresa
A1 Roqué, Marta
A1 Zamora Romero, Javier
AB Background: Diagnostic evidence of the accuracy of a test for identifying a target condition of interest can be estimated using systematic approaches following standardized methodologies. Statistical methods for the meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) studies are relatively complex, presenting a challenge for reviewers without extensive statistical expertise. In 2006, we developed Meta-DiSc, a free user-friendly software to perform test accuracy meta-analysis. This statistical program is now widely used for performing DTA meta-analyses. We aimed to build a new version of the Meta-DiSc software to include statistical methods based on hierarchical models and an enhanced web-based interface to improve user experience.Results: In this article, we present the updated version, Meta-DiSc 2.0, a web-based application developed using the R Shiny package. This new version implements recommended state-of-the-art statistical models to overcome the limitations of the statistical approaches included in the previous version. Meta-DiSc 2.0 performs statistical analyses of DTA reviews using a bivariate random effects model. The application offers a thorough analysis of heterogeneity, calculating logit variance estimates of sensitivity and specificity, the bivariate I-squared, the area of the 95% prediction ellipse, and the median odds ratios for sensitivity and specificity, and facilitating subgroup and meta-regression analyses. Furthermore, univariate random effects models can be applied to meta-analyses with few studies or with non-convergent bivariate models. The application interface has an intuitive design set out in four main menus: file upload; graphical description (forest and ROC plane plots); meta-analysis (pooling of sensitivity and specificity, estimation of likelihood ratios and diagnostic odds ratio, sROC curve); and summary of findings (impact of test through downstream consequences in a hypothetical population with a given prevalence). All computational algorithms have been validated in several real datasets by comparing results obtained with STATA/SAS and MetaDTA packages.Conclusion: We have developed and validated an updated version of the Meta-DiSc software that is more accessible and statistically sound. The web application is freely available at www.metadisc.es .
PB Springer
YR 2022
FD 2022-11-28
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/110678
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/110678
LA eng
NO Plana MN, Arevalo-Rodriguez I, Fernández-García S, et al. Meta-DiSc 2.0: a web application for meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy data. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2022;22(1):306. Published 2022 Nov 28. doi:10.1186/s12874-022-01788-2
NO Instituto de Salud Carlos III through the project "PI19/00481" (Co-funded by European Regional Development Fund/ European Social Fund; “A way to make Europe”/"Investing in your future"). The Biomedical Research Networking Center in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP) funds the subscription to the shinyapps.io platform where the app is hosted.
DS Docta Complutense
RD 4 abr 2025