A Time-varying Covariate Approach for Survival Analysis of Paediatric Outcomes

© 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd Background: Conventional survival analysis is commonly applied in the analysis of time-to-event data in paediatric studies, where the exposure variables of interest are often treated as time-fixed. However, the values of these exposure variables can vary over time...

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Main Authors: Zhao, J., Zhao, Yun, Lee, A., Binns, Colin
Format: Journal Article
Published: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd. 2017
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/63138
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author Zhao, J.
Zhao, Yun
Lee, A.
Binns, Colin
author_facet Zhao, J.
Zhao, Yun
Lee, A.
Binns, Colin
author_sort Zhao, J.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd Background: Conventional survival analysis is commonly applied in the analysis of time-to-event data in paediatric studies, where the exposure variables of interest are often treated as time-fixed. However, the values of these exposure variables can vary over time and time-fixed analysis may introduce time-dependent bias. Methods: Time-dependent bias is illustrated graphically considering two scenarios in longitudinal study settings for paediatric time-to-event outcomes. As an illustrative example, the time-varying covariate approach was applied to survival analysis of breast-feeding data (n = 695) collected in China between 2010 and 2011, with an emphasis on the effects of covariates ‘solid foods introduction’ and ‘maternal return to work’ on breast-feeding duration up to 12 months postpartum. Results: Time-varying exposures could occur before or after the occurrence of an event of interest so that time-fixed analysis can lead to biased and imprecise parameter estimates. In the illustrative example, the reduced risk of ‘solid foods introduction’ (hazard ratio (HR) 0.61, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.50, 0.75) on breast-feeding cessation and an absence of an association with ‘maternal return to work’ (HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.73, 1.36) from the time-fixed analysis reversed (HR 1.50, 95% CI 1.17, 1.93) and became significant (HR 1.45, 95% CI 1.06, 2.00), respectively, based on the time-varying covariate model. Conclusions: The time-varying covariate approach is preferable for survival analysis of time-to-event data in the presence of time-varying exposures.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-631382018-02-06T06:23:28Z A Time-varying Covariate Approach for Survival Analysis of Paediatric Outcomes Zhao, J. Zhao, Yun Lee, A. Binns, Colin © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd Background: Conventional survival analysis is commonly applied in the analysis of time-to-event data in paediatric studies, where the exposure variables of interest are often treated as time-fixed. However, the values of these exposure variables can vary over time and time-fixed analysis may introduce time-dependent bias. Methods: Time-dependent bias is illustrated graphically considering two scenarios in longitudinal study settings for paediatric time-to-event outcomes. As an illustrative example, the time-varying covariate approach was applied to survival analysis of breast-feeding data (n = 695) collected in China between 2010 and 2011, with an emphasis on the effects of covariates ‘solid foods introduction’ and ‘maternal return to work’ on breast-feeding duration up to 12 months postpartum. Results: Time-varying exposures could occur before or after the occurrence of an event of interest so that time-fixed analysis can lead to biased and imprecise parameter estimates. In the illustrative example, the reduced risk of ‘solid foods introduction’ (hazard ratio (HR) 0.61, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.50, 0.75) on breast-feeding cessation and an absence of an association with ‘maternal return to work’ (HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.73, 1.36) from the time-fixed analysis reversed (HR 1.50, 95% CI 1.17, 1.93) and became significant (HR 1.45, 95% CI 1.06, 2.00), respectively, based on the time-varying covariate model. Conclusions: The time-varying covariate approach is preferable for survival analysis of time-to-event data in the presence of time-varying exposures. 2017 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/63138 10.1111/ppe.12410 Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd. restricted
spellingShingle Zhao, J.
Zhao, Yun
Lee, A.
Binns, Colin
A Time-varying Covariate Approach for Survival Analysis of Paediatric Outcomes
title A Time-varying Covariate Approach for Survival Analysis of Paediatric Outcomes
title_full A Time-varying Covariate Approach for Survival Analysis of Paediatric Outcomes
title_fullStr A Time-varying Covariate Approach for Survival Analysis of Paediatric Outcomes
title_full_unstemmed A Time-varying Covariate Approach for Survival Analysis of Paediatric Outcomes
title_short A Time-varying Covariate Approach for Survival Analysis of Paediatric Outcomes
title_sort time-varying covariate approach for survival analysis of paediatric outcomes
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/63138