A Bayesian approach to functional-based multilevel modeling of longitudinal data: applications to environmental epidemiology.

ABSTRACT: Flexible multilevel models are proposed to allow for cluster-specific smooth estimation of growth curves in a mixed-effects modeling format that includes subject-specific random effects on the growth parameters. Attention is then focused on models that examine between-cluster comparisons of the effects of an ecologic covariate of interest (e.g. air pollution) on nonlinear functionals of growth curves (e.g. maximum rate of growth). A Gibbs sampling approach is used to get posterior mean estimates of nonlinear functionals along with their uncertainty estimates. A second-stage ecologic random-effects model is used to examine the association between a covariate of interest (e.g. air pollution) and the nonlinear functionals. A unified estimation procedure is presented along with its computation

SUBMITTER: Berhane K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2733176 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature