What is the optimal approach to analyse ventilator-free days? A simulation study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Ventilator-free days (VFDs) are a composite outcome in critical care research, reflecting both survival and mechanical ventilation duration. However, analysis methods for VFDs are inconsistent, with some focusing on counts and others on time-to-event outcomes, while other approaches such as the multistate model and the win ratio have emerged. We aimed to evaluate various statistical models through simulations to identify the optimal approach for analysing VFDs.

Methods

First, 16 datasets of 300 individuals were simulated, comparing a control group to an intervention with varying survival rates and ventilation durations. Various statistical models were evaluated for statistical power and Type I error rate. Four clinical trial datasets (LIVE study, NCT02149589; ARMA

SUBMITTER: Renard Triche L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12180158 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature