Incidence rate estimation, periodic testing and the limitations of the mid-point imputation approach.

ABSTRACT:

Background

It is common to use the mid-point between the latest-negative and earliest-positive test dates as the date of the infection event. However, the accuracy of the mid-point method has yet to be systematically quantified for incidence studies once participants start to miss their scheduled test dates.

Methods

We used a simulation-based approach to generate an infectious disease epidemic for an incidence cohort with a high (80-100%), moderate (60-79.9%), low (40-59.9%) and poor (30-39.9%) testing rate. Next, we imputed a mid-point and random-point value between the participant's latest-negative and earliest-positive test dates. We then compared the incidence rate derived from these imputed values with the true incidence rate generated from the simulation model.

Resu

SUBMITTER: Vandormael A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5837439 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature