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A Gaussian Copula Regression Approach for Modelling Repeated Data in Medical Research

Received: 27 June 2023    Accepted: 19 July 2023    Published: 31 July 2023
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Abstract

In repeated measures data, the observations tend to be correlated within each subject, and such data are often analyzed using Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE), which are robust to assumptions that many methods hold. The main limitation of GEE is that its method of estimation is quasi-likelihood. The recent framework of the copula is very popular for handling repeated data. The maximum likelihood-based analysis for repeated data can be obtained using Gaussian copula regression. The purpose of this study is to show the handling and analysis of the repeated data using the Gaussian copula regression approach and compare the findings with GEE. The prospective, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial data for this study was obtained from the Department of Anesthesia, Christian Medical College, and Vellore. ASA I and II patients were randomized into three groups. Hemodynamic parameters were obtained for 88 patients at thirteen-time points. The outcome of interest was mean arterial pressure. Both GEE and Gaussian copula regression were compared assuming four different correlation structures. The optimal correlation structures were selected with the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) and Correlation Information Criterion (CIC) goodness of fit criteria according to the method of estimation of Gaussian copula regression and GEE, respectively. The correlation structures, unstructured and autoregressive, were found to be optimal for Gaussian copula regression and GEE based on AIC and CIC criteria values respectively. A comparison between the estimated values of the selected models showed no major differences. Gaussian copula regression found that intrathecal morphine has a significant reduction in MAP over time, this significance is considered important as the study uses randomized controlled trial data. Both methods have almost similar results, but Gaussian copula regression provides better results by identifying significant findings associated with the outcome using maximum likelihood estimation that GEE fails to identify using quasi-likelihood estimation.

Published in Biomedical Statistics and Informatics (Volume 8, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.bsi.20230802.11
Page(s) 22-30
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Correlation Structures, Gaussian Copula Regression, Generalized Estimating Equations, Repeated Data

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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Reka Karuppusami, Gomathi Sudhakar, Juliya Pearl Joseph Johnson, Ramamani Mariappan, Jansi Rani, et al. (2023). A Gaussian Copula Regression Approach for Modelling Repeated Data in Medical Research. Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, 8(2), 22-30. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.bsi.20230802.11

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    ACS Style

    Reka Karuppusami; Gomathi Sudhakar; Juliya Pearl Joseph Johnson; Ramamani Mariappan; Jansi Rani, et al. A Gaussian Copula Regression Approach for Modelling Repeated Data in Medical Research. Biomed. Stat. Inform. 2023, 8(2), 22-30. doi: 10.11648/j.bsi.20230802.11

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    AMA Style

    Reka Karuppusami, Gomathi Sudhakar, Juliya Pearl Joseph Johnson, Ramamani Mariappan, Jansi Rani, et al. A Gaussian Copula Regression Approach for Modelling Repeated Data in Medical Research. Biomed Stat Inform. 2023;8(2):22-30. doi: 10.11648/j.bsi.20230802.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.bsi.20230802.11,
      author = {Reka Karuppusami and Gomathi Sudhakar and Juliya Pearl Joseph Johnson and Ramamani Mariappan and Jansi Rani and Belavendra Antonisamy and Prasanna S. Premkumar},
      title = {A Gaussian Copula Regression Approach for Modelling Repeated Data in Medical Research},
      journal = {Biomedical Statistics and Informatics},
      volume = {8},
      number = {2},
      pages = {22-30},
      doi = {10.11648/j.bsi.20230802.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.bsi.20230802.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.bsi.20230802.11},
      abstract = {In repeated measures data, the observations tend to be correlated within each subject, and such data are often analyzed using Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE), which are robust to assumptions that many methods hold. The main limitation of GEE is that its method of estimation is quasi-likelihood. The recent framework of the copula is very popular for handling repeated data. The maximum likelihood-based analysis for repeated data can be obtained using Gaussian copula regression. The purpose of this study is to show the handling and analysis of the repeated data using the Gaussian copula regression approach and compare the findings with GEE. The prospective, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial data for this study was obtained from the Department of Anesthesia, Christian Medical College, and Vellore. ASA I and II patients were randomized into three groups. Hemodynamic parameters were obtained for 88 patients at thirteen-time points. The outcome of interest was mean arterial pressure. Both GEE and Gaussian copula regression were compared assuming four different correlation structures. The optimal correlation structures were selected with the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) and Correlation Information Criterion (CIC) goodness of fit criteria according to the method of estimation of Gaussian copula regression and GEE, respectively. The correlation structures, unstructured and autoregressive, were found to be optimal for Gaussian copula regression and GEE based on AIC and CIC criteria values respectively. A comparison between the estimated values of the selected models showed no major differences. Gaussian copula regression found that intrathecal morphine has a significant reduction in MAP over time, this significance is considered important as the study uses randomized controlled trial data. Both methods have almost similar results, but Gaussian copula regression provides better results by identifying significant findings associated with the outcome using maximum likelihood estimation that GEE fails to identify using quasi-likelihood estimation.},
     year = {2023}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - A Gaussian Copula Regression Approach for Modelling Repeated Data in Medical Research
    AU  - Reka Karuppusami
    AU  - Gomathi Sudhakar
    AU  - Juliya Pearl Joseph Johnson
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    AU  - Belavendra Antonisamy
    AU  - Prasanna S. Premkumar
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    DO  - 10.11648/j.bsi.20230802.11
    T2  - Biomedical Statistics and Informatics
    JF  - Biomedical Statistics and Informatics
    JO  - Biomedical Statistics and Informatics
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    EP  - 30
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2578-8728
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.bsi.20230802.11
    AB  - In repeated measures data, the observations tend to be correlated within each subject, and such data are often analyzed using Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE), which are robust to assumptions that many methods hold. The main limitation of GEE is that its method of estimation is quasi-likelihood. The recent framework of the copula is very popular for handling repeated data. The maximum likelihood-based analysis for repeated data can be obtained using Gaussian copula regression. The purpose of this study is to show the handling and analysis of the repeated data using the Gaussian copula regression approach and compare the findings with GEE. The prospective, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial data for this study was obtained from the Department of Anesthesia, Christian Medical College, and Vellore. ASA I and II patients were randomized into three groups. Hemodynamic parameters were obtained for 88 patients at thirteen-time points. The outcome of interest was mean arterial pressure. Both GEE and Gaussian copula regression were compared assuming four different correlation structures. The optimal correlation structures were selected with the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) and Correlation Information Criterion (CIC) goodness of fit criteria according to the method of estimation of Gaussian copula regression and GEE, respectively. The correlation structures, unstructured and autoregressive, were found to be optimal for Gaussian copula regression and GEE based on AIC and CIC criteria values respectively. A comparison between the estimated values of the selected models showed no major differences. Gaussian copula regression found that intrathecal morphine has a significant reduction in MAP over time, this significance is considered important as the study uses randomized controlled trial data. Both methods have almost similar results, but Gaussian copula regression provides better results by identifying significant findings associated with the outcome using maximum likelihood estimation that GEE fails to identify using quasi-likelihood estimation.
    VL  - 8
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Biostatistics, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India

  • Department of Biostatistics, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India

  • Departments of Anaesthesia, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India

  • Department of Neuroanaesthesia, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India

  • Department of Biostatistics, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India

  • Department of Biostatistics, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India

  • Department of Biostatistics, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India

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