Accuracy and cut-off point selection in three-class classification problems using a generalization of the Youden index

Abstract

We study properties of the index J(3), defined as the accuracy, or the maximum correct classification, for a given three class classification problem Specifically, using J(3) one can assess the discrimination between the three distributions and obtain an optimal pair of cut off points c(1)<c(2) in the sense that the sum of the correct classification proportions will be maximized It also serves as the generalization of the Youden Index in three class problems Parametric and non parametric approaches for estimation and testing are considered and methods are applied to data from an MRS study on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients Copyright (C) 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd