ROC Steady

Abstract

This paper describes a simple method for constructing receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves based on boundary conditions that restrict its theoretical shape. The resultant curve is identical to that for logistic distributions with equal variance. Although the underlying assumptions are highly restrictive, this method nevertheless possesses several attractive properties which are illustrated by its application to 2,567 patients undergoing a variety of noninvasive diagnostic tests for coronary artery disease: 1) the area under the curve is defined by a single parameter; 2) the associated standard deviation is analytically defined and readily computed; 3) the curve is completely invariant with respect to selection bias. Key words: coronary artery disease; diagnostic tests; ROC analysis; ROC curves; selection bias. (Med Decis Making 7:238-243, 1987)