Diagnosis of rheumatism by means of universal criteria, obtained by the cybernetic method

With a view to establishing standardized criteria for the diagnosis of rheumatism suitable for widespread use in polyclinics and in large-scale epidemiological investigations, 3000 adults and children with rheumatism or one of seven similar diseases were subjected to multiple screening in eight cent...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Bulletin of the World Health Organization Vol. 53; no. 4; pp. 453 - 459
Main Authors:	Benevolenskaja, L I, Andreev, N A, Kurmaeva, M E, Nadezdina, E A, Brzezovskij, M M, Cyganova, G I, Feldmanis, A E, Gargasas, L V, Mal'cev, P V, Orlov-Morozov, A V
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Switzerland 1976
Subjects:	Adult Child Cybernetics Humans Methods Rheumatic Diseases - diagnosis Rheumatism USSR USSR
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Summary:	With a view to establishing standardized criteria for the diagnosis of rheumatism suitable for widespread use in polyclinics and in large-scale epidemiological investigations, 3000 adults and children with rheumatism or one of seven similar diseases were subjected to multiple screening in eight centres in the USSR using a specially prepared standard card and standard methods. The information obtained was processed by cybernetic methods. Following determination of the sensitivity, specificity, and informational value of 486 signs of rheumatism, 68 of the most indicative signs were selected as criteria of rheumatism. These were included in the final table and weighted according to their indicational value both individually and in groups as syndromes. Using the table it is possible by simple calculation, without using a computer, to arrive at an objective evaluation of the reliability of the clinical diagnosis of rheumatism in patients with one of a group of eight similar diseases. The final diagnostic table was tested on 562 patients selected epidemiologically or from polyclinics or clinics and was shown to result in a high degree of diagnostic precision (higher than 95%).
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 From the Laboratory for the Epidemiology of Collagen Diseases and Arthritides (Chief, Dr Med. Sci. L. I. Benevolenskaja), Institute for Research on Rheumatism of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow, and the Division of Medical Cybernetics (Chief, Dr Med. Sci. N. A. Andreev) of the Central Research Laboratory of the Riga Medical Institute, Riga, Latvian SSR.
ISSN:	0042-9686