Selection bias in multidrug-resistant tuberculosis cohort studies assessing sputum culture conversion.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Conversion of sputum culture from positive to negative for M. tuberculosis is a key indicator of treatment response. An initial positive culture is a pre-requisite to observe conversion. Consequently, patients with a missing or negative initial culture are excluded from analyses of conversion outcomes. To identify the initial, or "baseline" culture, researchers must define a sample collection interval. An interval extending past treatment initiation can increase sample size but may introduce selection bias because patients without a positive pre-treatment culture must survive and remain in care to have a culture in the post-treatment interval.

Methods

We used simulated data and data from the endTB observational cohort to investigate the potential for bias when ext

SUBMITTER: Rodriguez CA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9648724 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature