Clinical features

• conjunctival pallor ^a
• facial pallor ^b
• palmar pallor ^b

The more that are present, the greater the chance of anaemia. ^b

Why?

Conjunctival pallor, facial or palmar pallor make anaemia more likely.

Patient	Target Disorder and Reference Standard	Diagnostic Test	LR+ (95% CI)	Post-test Probability	LR- (95% CI)	Post-test Probability
suspected anaemia b (pre-test probability: 19%)	anaemia (haematocrit <0.41 men or <0.31 women)	conjunctival pallor	3.1 (1.4 to 6.8)	42%	0.65 (0.50 to 0.84)	13%
		facial pallor	3.6 (1.3 to 9.8)	46%	0.72 (0.59 to 0.89)	14%
		palmar pallor	2.2 (1.2 to 4.0)	34%	0.62 (0.46 to 0.85)	13%
		any present	2.3 (1.4 to 3.8)	35%	0.48 (0.32 to 0.72)	10%
		2 present	3.0 (1.4 to 6.6)	41%	0.67 (0.52 to 0.86)	14%
		all present	5.5 (1.3 to 23)	56%	0.77 (0.66 to 0.91)	15%