Visualizing the target estimand in comparative effectiveness studies with multiple treatments.

ABSTRACT: Aim: Comparative effectiveness research using real-world data often involves pairwise propensity score matching to adjust for confounding bias. We show that corresponding treatment effect estimates may have limited external validity, and propose two visualization tools to clarify the target estimand. Materials & methods: We conduct a simulation study to demonstrate, with bivariate ellipses and joy plots, that differences in covariate distributions across treatment groups may affect the external validity of treatment effect estimates. We showcase how these visualization tools can facilitate the interpretation of target estimands in a case study comparing the effectiveness of teriflunomide (TERI), dimethyl fumarate (DMF) and natalizumab (NAT) on manual dexterity in patients wit

SUBMITTER: Simoneau G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10842272 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature