[Consistency analysis in the use of abdominal ultrasonography for diagnosing schistosomiasis japonica-related morbidity].

Objective: To explore the consistency among different indices of abdominal ultrasonography for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis japonica related morbidity and the best combination of the indices.

Methods: Six indices of abdominal ultrasonography were selected to investigate schistosomiasis related morbidity in residents in a village of Hunan Province, and the Kappa coefficients of diagnostic consistency among different indices and Cronbach's alpha coefficients of different combinations of indices were computed.

Results: The Kappa coefficients of 'liver parenchyma > or = grade II' with 'right midclavicular subcostal' and with 'portal vein diameter' were 0.4131 and 0.4655 respectively, higher than normal level. The degree of their consistency was fair, and others showed poor or almost no consistency. Among the combinations made up of different indices, the Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the combination made up of 'liver parenchyma > or = grade II', 'right midclavicular subcostal' and 'portal vein diameter' was 0.6566 which was the highest, showing the strongest internal consistency.

Conclusion: The six indices can not be replaced with each other in assessing schistosomiasis related morbidity. Before abdominal ultrasonography is used extensively to assess the morbidity, it is necessary to study the diagnostic consistency of these indices and the best combination of the indices.