The Risk Distribution Curve and its Derivatives
Risk stratification is most directly and informatively summarized as a risk distribution curve. From this curve the ROC curve, predictiveness curve, and other curves depicting risk stratification can be derived, demonstrating that they present similar information. A mathematical expression for the ROC curve AUC is derived which clarifies how this measure of discrimination quantifies the overlap between patients who have and don't have events. This expression is used to define the positive correlation between the dispersion of the risk distribution curve and the ROC curve AUC. As more disperse risk distributions and greater separation between patients with and without events characterize superior risk stratification, the ROC curve AUC provides useful information.