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BMC Medical Research Methodology

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Open Access 01-12-2005 | Research article

Comparison of nested case-control and survival analysis methodologies for analysis of time-dependent exposure

Authors: Vidal Essebag, Robert W Platt, Michal Abrahamowicz, Louise Pilote

Published in: BMC Medical Research Methodology | Issue 1/2005

Abstract

Background

Epidemiological studies of exposures that vary with time require an additional level of methodological complexity to account for the time-dependence of exposure. This study compares a nested case-control approach for the study of time-dependent exposure with cohort analysis using Cox regression including time-dependent covariates.

Methods

A cohort of 1340 subjects with four fixed and seven time-dependent covariates was used for this study. Nested case-control analyses were repeated 100 times for each of 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64 controls per case, and point estimates were compared to those obtained using Cox regression on the full cohort. Computational efficiencies were evaluated by comparing central processing unit times required for analysis of the cohort at sizes 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 times its initial size.

Results

Nested case-control analyses yielded results that were similar to results of Cox regression on the full cohort. Cox regression was found to be 125 times slower than the nested case-control approach (using four controls per case).

Conclusions

The nested case-control approach is a useful alternative for cohort analysis when studying time-dependent exposures. Its superior computational efficiency may be particularly useful when studying rare outcomes in databases, where the ability to analyze larger sample sizes can improve the power of the study.

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The pre-publication history for this paper can be accessed here:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2288/5/5/prepub

Title: Comparison of nested case-control and survival analysis methodologies for analysis of time-dependent exposure
Authors: Vidal Essebag
Robert W Platt
Michal Abrahamowicz
Louise Pilote
Publication date: 01-12-2005
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Medical Research Methodology / Issue 1/2005
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2288
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-5-5

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Springer Medicine

Comparison of nested case-control and survival analysis methodologies for analysis of time-dependent exposure

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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