An exact regression-based approach for the estimation of natural direct and indirect effects with a binary outcome and a continuous mediator.

ABSTRACT: In the causal mediation framework, a number of parametric regression-based approaches have been introduced in recent years for estimating natural direct and indirect effects for a binary outcome in an exact manner, without invoking simplifying assumptions based on the rareness or commonness of the outcome. However, most of these works have focused on a binary mediator. In this article, we aim at a continuous mediator and introduce an exact approach for the estimation of natural effects on the odds ratio, risk ratio, and risk difference scales. Our approach relies on logistic and linear models for the outcome and mediator, respectively, and uses numerical integration to calculate the nested counterfactual probabilities underlying the definition of natural effects. Formulas for the delta met

SUBMITTER: Samoilenko M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10107148 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature