Causal inference methods to study gastric tube use in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To estimate effects of gastric tube (G-tube) on survival and quality of life (QOL) in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) correcting for confounding by indication inherent in nonrandomized observational data.

Methods

To complement a recent causal inference analysis, which concluded that G-tube placement increases the hazard of death, permanent assisted ventilation, or tracheostomy by 28%, we fit causal inference models on a different sample of 481 patients with ALS enrolled in a recent clinical trial of ceftriaxone. Forward selection identified predictors of G-tube placement. Effects of G-tube on survival and QOL were estimated using structural nested models and marginal structural models, accounting for predictors of G-tube treatment.

Results

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SUBMITTER: McDonnell E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5631169 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature