Comparative Diagnostic Performance of Vibration Perception Thresholds and clinical indicators in Sensorineural...

To examine the diagnostic performances (sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, accuracy, and receiver operating characteristic area under the curve (ROC-AUC)) in sensorineural Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS-SN).

In a retrospective study, clinical data were evaluated in 180 workers referred to HAVS assessment 2007-2019. Diagnostic performances were analyzed with clinical diagnosis serving as the reference standard.

Vibration Perception Thresholds (VPTs), measured with Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST), demonstrated superior diagnostic performance: sensitivity 93% (95% CI: 81-99%), specificity 82% (68-92%), positive predictive value 90% (83-94%), negative predictive value 87% (69-95%), accuracy 89% (80-95%), and ROC-AUC 0.88. This outperformed sharp/soft sensibility tests (ROC-AUC 0.68), self-reported numbness (specificity: 33%, ROC-AUC 0.67), and other assessments.

QST by measurement of VPTs was the most accurate single diagnostic test for HAVS-SN.