| Title |
Comparing treatment effects after adjustment with multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression and propensity score methods |
| Published in |
Pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety, Vol. 17, p.1-8. ISSN 1053-8569. |
| Author |
Martens, E.P.; Boer, A. de; Pestman, W.R.; Belitser, S.; Stricker, B.H.Ch.; Klungel, O.H. |
| Date |
2008 |
| Language |
English |
| Type |
article |
| Publisher |
Wiley InterScience |
| Abstract |
Purpose To compare adjusted effects of drug treatment for hypertension on the risk of stroke from propensity score (PS)
methods with a multivariable Cox proportional hazards (Cox PH) regression in an observational study with censored data.
Methods From two prospective population-based cohort studies in The Netherlands a selection of subjects was used who
either received drug treatment for hypertension (n¼1293) or were untreated ‘candidates’ for treatment (n¼954). A
multivariable Cox PH was performed on the risk of stroke using eight covariates along with three PS methods.
Results In multivariable Cox PH regression the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for treatment was 0.64 (CI95%: 0.42, 0.98). After
stratification on the PS the HR was 0.58 (CI95%: 0.38, 0.89). Matching on the PS yielded a HR of 0.49 (CI95%: 0.27, 0.88),
whereas adjustment with a continuous PS gave similar results as Cox regression. When more covariates were added (not
possible in multivariable Cox model) a similar reduction in HR was reached by all PS methods. The inclusion of a simulated
balanced covariate gave largest changes in HR using the multivariable Cox model and matching on the PS.
Conclusions In PS methods in general a larger number of confounders can be used. In this data set matching on the PS is
sensitive to small changes in the model, probably because of the small number of events. Stratification, and covariate
adjustment, were less sensitive to the inclusion of a non-confounder than multivariable Cox PH regression. Attention should
be paid to PS model building and balance checking. |
| Publication |
http://igitur-archive.library.uu.nl/phar/2009-0302-200826/UU... |
| Persistent Identifier |
URN:NBN:NL:UI:10-1874-32596 |
| Metadata |
XML |
| Repository |
Utrecht University |