Bayesian quantile regression joint models: Inference and dynamic predictions.
Abstract
In the traditional joint models of a longitudinal and time-to-event outcome, a linear
mixed model assuming normal random errors is used to model the longitudinal process.
However, in many circumstances, the normality assumption is violated and the linear
mixed model is not an appropriate sub-model in the joint models. In addition, as the
linear mixed model models the conditional mean of the longitudinal outcome, it is
not appropriate if clinical interest lies in making inference or prediction on median,
lower, or upper ends of the longitudinal process. To this end, quantile regression
provides a flexible, distribution-free way to study covariate effects at different
quantiles of the longitudinal outcome and it is robust not only to deviation from
normality, but also to outlying observations. In this article, we present and advocate
the linear quantile mixed model for the longitudinal process in the joint models framework.
Our development is motivated by a large prospective study of Huntington's disease
where primary clinical interest is in utilizing longitudinal motor scores and other
early covariates to predict the risk of developing Huntington's disease. We develop
a Bayesian method based on the location-scale representation of the asymmetric Laplace
distribution, assess its performance through an extensive simulation study, and demonstrate
how this linear quantile mixed model-based joint models approach can be used for making
subject-specific dynamic predictions of survival probability.
Type
Journal articleSubject
Asymmetric Laplace distributionBayesian inference
Huntington’s disease
Markov Chain Monte Carlo
linear quantile mixed model
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https://hdl.handle.net/10161/19137Published Version (Please cite this version)
10.1177/0962280218784757Publication Info
Yang, Ming; Luo, Sheng; & DeSantis, Stacia (2018). Bayesian quantile regression joint models: Inference and dynamic predictions. Statistical methods in medical research. pp. 962280218784757. 10.1177/0962280218784757. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/19137.This is constructed from limited available data and may be imprecise. To cite this
article, please review & use the official citation provided by the journal.
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Show full item recordScholars@Duke
Sheng Luo
Professor of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics

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