Table 3.
Sensitivity, Specificity, Positive Predictive Value, and Negative Predictive Value of Carotid Bruits for Stenosis, Carotid Intima-Medial Thickness, and Plaque
| Sensitivity | Specificity | Positive predictive value | Negative predictive value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patients with carotid bruit | ||||
| Carotid stenosis | ||||
| ≥50% | 88 (62–98) | 58 (47–68) | 30 (18–45) | 96 (85–99) |
| ≥70% | 83 (37–99) | 52 (42–62) | 10 (4–23) | 98 (88–100) |
| CIMT | ||||
| ≥1.0 mm | 74 (56–87) | 63 (50–74) | 52 (38–66) | 82 (68–91) |
| ≥75th percentile | 60 (45–73) | 63 (46–77) | 67 (51–80) | 56 (40–70) |
| Hard/mixed plaque | 60 (47–72) | 69 (51–83) | 78 (64–88) | 48 (34–62) |
| Asymptomatic cases/controls | ||||
| Carotid stenosis ≥50% | 100 (63–100) | 56 (44–67) | 21 (11–37) | 100 (90–100) |
| Carotid stenosis ≥70% | 100 (20–100) | 51 (40–62) | 5 (1–17) | 95 (90–100) |
Data are estimated population midpoints (95% confidence intervals). Data for 42 case/control pairs, both of whom had no prior symptoms of carotid arterial disease, are also shown.
CIMT, carotid intima-medial thickness.