Sweat conductivity diagnostic accuracy for cystic fibrosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Arch Dis Child

Department of Paediatrics, Medical School, and Cystic Fibrosis Clinic, University Hospital, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Published: November 2023

AI Article Synopsis

  • A systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of sweat conductivity (SC) as a diagnostic tool for cystic fibrosis (CF) by analyzing various studies.
  • Studies chosen compared the SC readings from devices like Nanoduct and Sweat-Chek Analyser to the established sweat chloride measurement.
  • Results showed that SC had high sensitivity (0.97) and specificity (0.99), indicating it could serve as an accurate alternative to the traditional sweat test for diagnosing CF.

Article Abstract

Objective: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy studies to summarise the properties of sweat conductivity (SC) to rule in/out cystic fibrosis (CF).

Data Source: We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Google Scholar, SciELO and LILACS up to 13 March 2023.

Study Selection: We selected prospective and retrospective diagnostic test accuracy studies which compared SC, measured through two well-established and commercially available devices, that is, Nanoduct or Sweat-Chek Analyser, to quantitative measurement of sweat chloride.

Main Outcome Measures: Pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (+LR) and negative likelihood ratio (-LR), and their corresponding 95% CIs.

Data Extraction And Synthesis: The Preferred Reporting Items for a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Diagnostic Test Accuracy Studies guidelines were followed. Data were extracted by one reviewer and checked by another. The hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristics model was used to estimate diagnostic test accuracy.

Results: Ten studies involving 8286 participants were included. The pooled estimates of sensitivity, specificity, +LR and -LR were 0.97 (95% CI 0.94 to 0.98), 0.99 (95% CI 0.98 to 0.99), 171 (95% CI 58 to 500) and 0.02 (95% CI 0.01 to 0.05), respectively. Sensitivity analyses did not reveal a substantial impact of study-level factors on the results, such as study quality, cut-off values for a positive test, study sample size and participant age group. The quality of evidence was considered moderate.

Conclusion: SC demonstrated excellent diagnostic performance. In addition, its accuracy parameters suggest its role as an alternative to the sweat test for CF diagnosis.

Prospero Registration Number: CRD42022284504.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2023-325629DOI Listing

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