Date of Completion
8-14-2018
Embargo Period
8-11-2028
Keywords
Network meta analysis, indirect comparison, cut-off points, High-dimensional random effects, model diagnostics, model comparison, weighted L measure, Links, Heterogeneity, Middle categories
Major Advisor
Dr. Ming-Hui Chen
Associate Advisor
Dr. Lynn Kuo
Associate Advisor
Dr. Dipak K. Dey
Field of Study
Statistics
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy
Open Access
Open Access
Abstract
In this dissertation research, we develop models and carry out statistical inference for meta ordinal outcomes under both frequentist and Bayesian frameworks. Specifically, we develop new regression models based on aggregate trial-level and treatment-level covariates for the underlying cut-off points of the ordinal outcomes as well as for the variances of the random effects to capture heterogeneity across trials.
In the frequentist approach, we develop Pearson residuals to detect outlying trials and construct an invariant test statistic to evaluate goodness-of-fit. We also develop a new computational algorithm to compute ranking probabilities to rank multiple treatments. Under the Bayesian framework, we examine the importance of links in fitting ordinal responses in the middle categories. The novel theoretical development allows for incorporating a variety of links regardless of symmetry or asymmetry. We develop an efficient Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling algorithm under different links using latent variables for Bayesian computation. To incorporate high-dimensional random effects for multi-arm trials, we develop a different data augmentation strategy via the Polya-Gamma mixture distribution, under the logit link. We develop another efficient computational algorithm to deal with high-dimensional random effects and it allows for more flexible modeling strategy of variances for the random effects. We then develop Bayesian model comparison measures and model diagnostic tools to facilitate the choices of links, the assessment of goodness-of-fit, and the determination of outlying trials.
A case study demonstrating the proposed methodology is conducted using aggregate ordinal outcome data to assess the effectiveness of different treatments in treating Crohn's Disease.
Recommended Citation
GWON, YEONGJIN, "New Methods and Innovations in Network Meta Regression for Ordinal Response Outcomes with Applications" (2018). Doctoral Dissertations. 1883.
https://digitalcommons.lib.uconn.edu/dissertations/1883