Table 1

Questions included in study part I: questions selected by monovariate and multivariate analysis

QuestionsSensitivity (%)95% CI (%)Specificity (%)95% CI (%)
Univariate analysis
 1. Do you remember one or more episodes of small red spots on your skin particularly involving the lower limbs?81.976.3 to 87.468.362.8 to 73.7
 2. Had you ever had red spots in your lower extremities associated with itching or pain?60.153.1 to 67.180.676.0 to 85.2
 3. Have you ever noticed small red dots on your legs and/or feet that don't disappear when squeezed and take a long time to fade away?67.060.3 to 73.883.479.1 to 87.8
 4. Had you ever had red spots in your lower extremities which leave a brownish colour after their disappearance?69.262.5 to 75.885.281.1 to 89.3
 5. Do you remember episodes of small red spots or macules on your skin, particularly involving the lower limbs, arising in a few hours (eg, from one evening to the following morning) and usually lasting from a few days to 1–2 weeks?75.066.8 to 81.282.477.9 to 86.8
 10. Have you ever had bad or non-healing skin ulcers in your legs?20.314.6 to 26.289.185.4 to 92.7
 12. Have you ever felt a burning sensation in your lower extremities for more than 1 month?36.229.6 to 43.578.974.0 to 83.6
 13. Do you have a change of feeling (painful or changed sensation) and/or palsy of muscles in your extremities?51.944.4 to 58.863.658.0 to 69.2
 14. Do you ever feel pins and needles in your legs or arms?64.958.2 to 71.957.051.1 to 62.7
 17. Did a doctor ever tell you that you have viral hepatitis?81.476.1 to 87.384.580.2 to 88.7
Multivariate analysis
 Question 1 Question 1796.894.3 to 99.357.451.6 to 63.2
 Question 1 Question 483.578.2 to 88.867.661.2 to 73.1
 Question 4 Question 1796.393.5 to 99.073.268.1 to 78.4
 Question 1 Question 4 Question 1797.395.0 to 99.657.451.6 to 63.2
 Question 1 Question 1766.559.7 to 73.395.493.0 to 97.9
 Question 1 Question 467.660.8 to 74.385.981.8 to 90.0
 Question 4 Question 1754.347.1 to 61.496.594.3 to 98.6
 Question 1 Question 4 Question 1753.246.0 to 60.497.295.2 to 99.1
 Positive response for at least any two out of the three questions 1, 4, 1781.976.4 to 87.483.579.1 to 87.8
  • union;

  • intersection.