Study designs of evaluations included in the review
Diagnostic accuracy studies were eligible for inclusion.
Specific interventions included in the review
Studies in dementia with every patient undergoing a neuroimaging study, i.e. computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI scan), were eligible for inclusion. The clinical characteristics included in the prediction rules were: age, duration of symptoms, dementia severity, acute change in cognitive functions, focal signs or symptoms, ocular or vision abnormalities, headache, trauma, history of malignant tumour, speech disorder, seizures, history of stroke, urinary incontinence, and gait disturbance. The clinical variables in the prediction rule were explicit and presented in sufficient detail to apply consistently in clinical practice. COMPARED>> MRI or CT scans were used to classify patients as having or not having a potentially reversible cause of dementia. Dementia was measured by the Mini-Mental Status Examination. All patients had to receive the reference standard for the studies to be included.
Reference standard test against which the new test was compared
MRI or CT scans were used to classify patients as having or not having a potentially reversible cause of dementia. Dementia was measured by the Mini-Mental Status Examination. All patients had to receive the reference standard for the studies to be included.
Participants included in the review
Studies where every patient had a diagnosis of dementia were included. The average age of the patients included in the review ranged from 63 to 76 years. In three studies the gender of the patients was not specified; in the four remaining studies, the proportion of females ranged from 53 to 71%.
Outcomes assessed in the review
The sensitivity and specificity of neuroimaging prediction rules for patients with dementia were assessed. Studies had to include sufficient data to calculate the sensitivity and specificity of the clinical prediction rule.
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
The authors do not state how the papers were selected for the review, or how many of the reviewers performed the selection.