On the validity of the case-time-control design for autocorrelated exposure histories

TY - JOUR

T1 - On the validity of the case-time-control design for autocorrelated exposure histories

AU - Jensen, Aksel Karl Georg

AU - Gerds, Thomas Alexander

AU - Weeke, Peter

AU - Torp-Pedersen, Christian

AU - Andersen, Per Kragh

PY - 2014/1

Y1 - 2014/1

N2 - The case-time-control design is an extension of the case-crossover design capable of handling time trends in the exposure of the general population. Time-invariant confounders are controlled for by the design itself. The idea is to compare the exposure status of a person in one or several reference periods during which no event occurred with the exposure status of the same person in the index period where the event occurred. By comparing case-crossover results in cases to case-crossover results in controls, the exposure-outcome association can be estimated by conditional logistic regression. We review the mathematical assumptions underlying the case-time-control design and examine sensitivity to deviations from the assumed independence of within-individual exposure history. Results from simulating various scenarios suggest that the design is quite robust to deviations from this model assumption. In addition, we show that changes in exposure probability over time can be modeled in a flexible way using splines.

AB - The case-time-control design is an extension of the case-crossover design capable of handling time trends in the exposure of the general population. Time-invariant confounders are controlled for by the design itself. The idea is to compare the exposure status of a person in one or several reference periods during which no event occurred with the exposure status of the same person in the index period where the event occurred. By comparing case-crossover results in cases to case-crossover results in controls, the exposure-outcome association can be estimated by conditional logistic regression. We review the mathematical assumptions underlying the case-time-control design and examine sensitivity to deviations from the assumed independence of within-individual exposure history. Results from simulating various scenarios suggest that the design is quite robust to deviations from this model assumption. In addition, we show that changes in exposure probability over time can be modeled in a flexible way using splines.

KW - Case-Control Studies

KW - Cohort Studies

KW - Computer Simulation

KW - Cross-Over Studies

KW - Epidemiologic Research Design

KW - Humans

KW - Time Factors

U2 - 10.1097/ede.0000000000000001

DO - 10.1097/ede.0000000000000001

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 24257508

SN - 1044-3983

VL - 25

SP - 110

EP - 113

JO - Epidemiology

JF - Epidemiology

IS - 1

ER -