A toolkit for measurement error correction, with a focus on nutritional epidemiology. 2014

Ruth H Keogh, and Ian R White
Department of Medical Statistics, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, U.K.

Exposure measurement error is a problem in many epidemiological studies, including those using biomarkers and measures of dietary intake. Measurement error typically results in biased estimates of exposure-disease associations, the severity and nature of the bias depending on the form of the error. To correct for the effects of measurement error, information additional to the main study data is required. Ideally, this is a validation sample in which the true exposure is observed. However, in many situations, it is not feasible to observe the true exposure, but there may be available one or more repeated exposure measurements, for example, blood pressure or dietary intake recorded at two time points. The aim of this paper is to provide a toolkit for measurement error correction using repeated measurements. We bring together methods covering classical measurement error and several departures from classical error: systematic, heteroscedastic and differential error. The correction methods considered are regression calibration, which is already widely used in the classical error setting, and moment reconstruction and multiple imputation, which are newer approaches with the ability to handle differential error. We emphasize practical application of the methods in nutritional epidemiology and other fields. We primarily consider continuous exposures in the exposure-outcome model, but we also outline methods for use when continuous exposures are categorized. The methods are illustrated using the data from a study of the association between fibre intake and colorectal cancer, where fibre intake is measured using a diet diary and repeated measures are available for a subset.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D012044 Regression Analysis Procedures for finding the mathematical function which best describes the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables. In linear regression (see LINEAR MODELS) the relationship is constrained to be a straight line and LEAST-SQUARES ANALYSIS is used to determine the best fit. In logistic regression (see LOGISTIC MODELS) the dependent variable is qualitative rather than continuously variable and LIKELIHOOD FUNCTIONS are used to find the best relationship. In multiple regression, the dependent variable is considered to depend on more than a single independent variable. Regression Diagnostics,Statistical Regression,Analysis, Regression,Analyses, Regression,Diagnostics, Regression,Regression Analyses,Regression, Statistical,Regressions, Statistical,Statistical Regressions
D004043 Dietary Fiber The remnants of plant cell walls that are resistant to digestion by the alimentary enzymes of man. It comprises various polysaccharides and lignins. Fiber, Dietary,Roughage,Wheat Bran,Bran, Wheat,Brans, Wheat,Dietary Fibers,Fibers, Dietary,Roughages,Wheat Brans
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D015179 Colorectal Neoplasms Tumors or cancer of the COLON or the RECTUM or both. Risk factors for colorectal cancer include chronic ULCERATIVE COLITIS; FAMILIAL POLYPOSIS COLI; exposure to ASBESTOS; and irradiation of the CERVIX UTERI. Colorectal Cancer,Colorectal Carcinoma,Colorectal Tumors,Neoplasms, Colorectal,Cancer, Colorectal,Cancers, Colorectal,Carcinoma, Colorectal,Carcinomas, Colorectal,Colorectal Cancers,Colorectal Carcinomas,Colorectal Neoplasm,Colorectal Tumor,Neoplasm, Colorectal,Tumor, Colorectal,Tumors, Colorectal
D015233 Models, Statistical Statistical formulations or analyses which, when applied to data and found to fit the data, are then used to verify the assumptions and parameters used in the analysis. Examples of statistical models are the linear model, binomial model, polynomial model, two-parameter model, etc. Probabilistic Models,Statistical Models,Two-Parameter Models,Model, Statistical,Models, Binomial,Models, Polynomial,Statistical Model,Binomial Model,Binomial Models,Model, Binomial,Model, Polynomial,Model, Probabilistic,Model, Two-Parameter,Models, Probabilistic,Models, Two-Parameter,Polynomial Model,Polynomial Models,Probabilistic Model,Two Parameter Models,Two-Parameter Model
D015596 Nutrition Assessment Evaluation and measurement of nutritional variables in order to assess the level of nutrition or the NUTRITIONAL STATUS of the individual. NUTRITION SURVEYS may be used in making the assessment. Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI),Assessment, Nutrition,Mini Nutrition Assessment,Mini Nutritional Assessment,Nutrition Assessments,Nutrition Index,Nutrition Indexes,Nutrition Indices,Nutritional Assessment,Nutritional Index,Prognostic Nutritional Index,Assessment, Mini Nutrition,Assessment, Mini Nutritional,Assessment, Nutritional,Assessments, Mini Nutrition,Assessments, Mini Nutritional,Assessments, Nutrition,Assessments, Nutritional,Index, Nutrition,Index, Nutritional,Index, Prognostic Nutritional,Index, Prognostic Nutritional (PNI),Indexes, Nutrition,Indices, Nutrition,Indices, Nutritional,Indices, Prognostic Nutritional,Indices, Prognostic Nutritional (PNI),Mini Nutrition Assessments,Mini Nutritional Assessments,Nutrition Assessment, Mini,Nutrition Assessments, Mini,Nutritional Assessment, Mini,Nutritional Assessments,Nutritional Assessments, Mini,Nutritional Index, Prognostic,Nutritional Index, Prognostic (PNI),Nutritional Indices,Nutritional Indices, Prognostic,Nutritional Indices, Prognostic (PNI),Prognostic Nutritional Indices,Prognostic Nutritional Indices (PNI)
D015982 Bias Any deviation of results or inferences from the truth, or processes leading to such deviation. Bias can result from several sources: one-sided or systematic variations in measurement from the true value (systematic error); flaws in study design; deviation of inferences, interpretations, or analyses based on flawed data or data collection; etc. There is no sense of prejudice or subjectivity implied in the assessment of bias under these conditions. Aggregation Bias,Bias, Aggregation,Bias, Ecological,Bias, Statistical,Bias, Systematic,Ecological Bias,Outcome Measurement Errors,Statistical Bias,Systematic Bias,Bias, Epidemiologic,Biases,Biases, Ecological,Biases, Statistical,Ecological Biases,Ecological Fallacies,Ecological Fallacy,Epidemiologic Biases,Experimental Bias,Fallacies, Ecological,Fallacy, Ecological,Scientific Bias,Statistical Biases,Truncation Bias,Truncation Biases,Bias, Experimental,Bias, Scientific,Bias, Truncation,Biase, Epidemiologic,Biases, Epidemiologic,Biases, Truncation,Epidemiologic Biase,Error, Outcome Measurement,Errors, Outcome Measurement,Outcome Measurement Error
D016001 Confidence Intervals A range of values for a variable of interest, e.g., a rate, constructed so that this range has a specified probability of including the true value of the variable. Confidence Interval,Interval, Confidence,Intervals, Confidence

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