The perils of using predicted values in place of observed covariates: an example of predicted values of body composition and mortality risk.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Several studies have assessed the relation of body composition to health outcomes by using values of fat and lean mass that were not measured but instead were predicted from anthropometric variables such as weight and height. Little research has been done on how substituting predicted values for measured covariates might affect analytic results.

Objectives

We aimed to explore statistical issues causing bias in analytical studies that use predicted rather than measured values of body composition.

Methods

We used data from 8014 adults ≥40 y old included in the 1999-2006 US NHANES. We evaluated the relations of predicted total body fat (TF) and predicted total body lean mass (TLM) with all-cause mortality. We then repeated the evaluation using measured body co

SUBMITTER: Haber G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8326037 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature