Validation of the endometriosis fertility index (EFI) in infertile Filipino women with laparoscopically-diagnosed endometriosis: A preliminary study.
- Author:
Ma. Isadora Margarita YAP-GARCIA
1
;
Delfin A TAN
1
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article, Original
- Keywords: Endometriosis Fertility Index; Efi; Filipino
- MeSH: Human; Female; Endometriosis; Infertility; Laparoscopy; Pregnancy Rate; Pregnancy; Women; Philippines
- From: Philippine Journal of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility 2012;9(2):55-63
- CountryPhilippines
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE
To validate the EFI, a clinical tool that predicts the possibility of pregnancy in Filipino women with laparoscopically-diagnosed endometriosis-associated infertility.
DESIGNRetrospective cohort
SETTINGSt. Luke's Medical Center
PATIENTSOne hundred twenty-two infertile women with laparoscopically-diagnosed endometriosis.
METHODOLOGYSubjects were scored using the Endometriosis Fertility Index (EFI). Pregnancy rates were determined separately. Discriminative capacity of the EFI was assessed by Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) analysis. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of the test at different thresholds were determined. Correlation of EFI scores and pregnancy rates was determined by logistic regression analysis.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURESEFI scores, pregnancy rates, ROC curve, Area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, Logistic fit of pregnancy VS. EFI scores.
RESULTSTwenty-two pregnancies occurred during the 12-month period with 13 pregnancies occurring within the first six months. Over-all pregnancy rate was 18.3%. The ROC curve straddled the line and showed an AUC of 67%. The sensitivity and specificity of the EFI for each threshold showed increasing sensitivity with lower scores and higher specificity with higher scores. Positive predictive values (PPV) were low, but Negative predictive values (NPVs) were high. Logistic regression analysis showed a good correlation between EFI scores and pregnancy (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONThe individual scores correlate well with the chances of pregnancy and the negative predictive value of the test is high. This index is a newly validated, simple clinical tool that can predict pregnancy in infertile women with endometriosis. The discrimination Gapability of the EFI needs further analysis.
