Comparison of Population-Averaged and Subject-Specific Approaches for Analyzing Repeated Binary Outcomes

F. B. Hu, J. Goldberg, D. Hedeker, B. R. Flay, M. A. Pentz
1998 American Journal of Epidemiology  
Several approaches have been proposed to model binary outcomes that arise from longitudinal studies. Most of the approaches can be grouped into two classes: the population-averaged and subject-specific approaches. The generalized estimating equations (GEE) method is commonly used to estimate populationaveraged effects, while random-effects logistic models can be used to estimate subject-specific effects. However, it is not clear to many epidemiologists how these two methods relate to one
more » ... or how these methods relate to more traditional stratified analysis and standard logistic models. The authors address these issues in the context of a longitudinal smoking prevention trial, the Midwestern Prevention Project. In particular, the authors compare results from stratified analysis, standard logistic models, conditional logistic models, the GEE models, and random-effects models by analyzing a binary outcome from two and seven repeated measurements, respectively. In the comparison, the authors focus on the interpretation of both time-varying and time-invariant covariates under different models. Implications of these methods for epidemiologic research are discussed. Am J Epidemiol 1998; 147:694-703. generalized estimating equations; longitudinal studies; random-effects regression models; repeated measurement
doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a009511 pmid:9554609 fatcat:cfowt5fcjrga7muiat2q4ofc2m