Table 2.
Index tests ranked by their superiority indices. Pooled sensitivity and specificity of index tests are also shown.
| Ranking of graph | Index test | Superiority index mean (CI) | Pooled sensitivity mean (CI) | Pooled specificity mean (CI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Sputum IL-1b | 8.75 (0.05–25.00) | 74% (26–97%) | 65% (19–93%) |
| #2 | Sputum TNFa | 7.23 (0.07–25.00) | 70% (35–96%) | 70% (33–93%) |
| #3 | Sputum TNFa+IL-8+IL-1b | 7.05 (0.05–25.00) | 67% (19–96%) | 69% (26–98%) |
| #4 | Sputum MPO | 6.52 (0.04–25.00) | 78% (32–100%) | 50% (13–89%) |
| #5 | CD64 index | 5.05 (0.04–21.00) | 71% (20–97%) | 55% (15–88%) |
| #6 | Sputum NE+TNFa+ serum CRP | 4.23 (0.05–23.00) | 68% (23–96%) | 58% (17–91%) |
| #7 | SAA | 3.20 (0.04–21.05) | 65% (22–96%) | 55% (14–89%) |
| #8 | Sputum IL-8 | 2.75 (0.04–19.00) | 59% (17–92%) | 58% (16–91%) |
| #9 | Sputum NE | 2.65 (0.04–19.00) | 64% (20–92%) | 55% (18–91%) |
| #10 | Sputum Color | 1.80 (0.05–13.00) | 71% (42–90%) | 51% (30–73%) |
| #11 | Eosinophil % | 1.74 (0.04–17.00) | 66% (22–96%) | 43% (8–87%) |
| #12 | PCT | 1.71 (0.09–9.00) | 54% (39–69%) | 71% (59–79%) |
| #13 | CRP | 1.70 (0.11–9.0) | 67% (54–77%) | 62% (52–71%) |
| #14 | N/L | 1.43 (0.04–15.00) | 59% (17–89%) | 51% (15–87%) |
CRP, C-reactive protein; IL-1b, interleukin one beta; IL-8, interleukin eight; MPO, myeloperoxidase; NE, neutrophil elastase; N/L, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio; PCT, procalcitonin; SAA, serum amyloid A; TNFa, tumor necrosis factor alfa; CI, confidence interval.