B1934
Title: A joint model for multiple longitudinal responses with informative time measurement
Authors: Ines Sousa - Minho University (Portugal) [presenting]
Abstract: In longitudinal studies, individuals are measured repeatedly over a period of time for a response variable of interest. In classical longitudinal models, the longitudinal observed process is considered independent of the times when measurements are taken. However, in a medical context, it is common that patients in the worst health conditions are more often observed, whereas patients under control do not need to be seen so many times. Therefore, longitudinal models for data with this characteristic should allow for an association between longitudinal and time measurement processes. We consider a response longitudinal variable with Gaussian distribution. We propose a model where the follow-up time process is stochastic. The model is described through the joint distribution of the observed process and the follow-up time process. Estimation of model parameters is through maximum likelihood. We conducted a simulation study of longitudinal data where model parameter estimates are compared, when using the model proposed and ignoring the association between processes. Finally, the model proposed is applied to a real data set when monitoring for biomarkers CEA and CA15.3 on breast cancer progression. In this case, the follow-up time process should be considered dependent on the longitudinal outcome process.
