How to perform prespecified subgroup analyses when using propensity score methods in the case of imbalanced subgroups.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Looking for treatment-by-subset interaction on a right-censored outcome based on observational data using propensity-score (PS) modeling is of interest. However, there are still issues regarding its implementation, notably when the subsets are very imbalanced in terms of prognostic features and treatment prevalence.

Methods

We conducted a simulation study to compare two main PS estimation strategies, performed either once on the whole sample ("across subset") or in each subset separately ("within subsets"). Several PS models and estimands are also investigated. We then illustrated those approaches on the motivating example, namely, evaluating the benefits of facial nerve resection in patients with parotid cancer in contact with the nerve, according to pretreatment

SUBMITTER: Chatelet F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10617117 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature