Family History: Sensitivity and Specificity

Introduction: The data below is assessing the accuracy of reported family history, namely if a patient reports a FHx of disease X, how true is it that his family members have that disease?

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The sensitivity and specificity of findings for Family History are listed below. See the left navigation bar to change the display.

Pre-Test Probability (Prevalence): %.	Post-Test Probability (Predictive Value): %.	Switch to display mode.
Note that calculating probabilities from more than one** finding is inherently inaccurate because findings are not independent. (For example, using two positive findings that share a common pathogenesis is likely to overestimate the true probability.)

Specific Findings
Finding	Result	Sensitivity	Specificity
[ + ] Family History of Breast Cancer	+ 0 -	83.5%	91%
Study: Wilson BJ, et al. Systematic Review: Family History in Risk Assessment for Common Diseases. NIH Conferences (Ann Int Med) http://www.annals.org/content/early/2009/11/02/0003-4819-151-12-200912150-00177.full
[ + ] Family History of Colon Cancer	+ 0 -	61.5%	91%
Study: Wilson BJ, et al. Systematic Review: Family History in Risk Assessment for Common Diseases. NIH Conferences (Ann Int Med) http://www.annals.org/content/early/2009/11/02/0003-4819-151-12-200912150-00177.full
[ + ] Family History of Heart Disease	+ 0 -	53.5%	87%
Study: Wilson BJ, et al. Systematic Review: Family History in Risk Assessment for Common Diseases. NIH Conferences (Ann Int Med) http://www.annals.org/content/early/2009/11/02/0003-4819-151-12-200912150-00177.full