Modeling absolute differences in life expectancy with a censored skew-normal regression approach

PeerJ
André MoserMarcel Zwahlen

Abstract

Parameter estimates from commonly used multivariable parametric survival regression models do not directly quantify differences in years of life expectancy. Gaussian linear regression models give results in terms of absolute mean differences, but are not appropriate in modeling life expectancy, because in many situations time to death has a negative skewed distribution. A regression approach using a skew-normal distribution would be an alternative to parametric survival models in the modeling of life expectancy, because parameter estimates can be interpreted in terms of survival time differences while allowing for skewness of the distribution. In this paper we show how to use the skew-normal regression so that censored and left-truncated observations are accounted for. With this we model differences in life expectancy using data from the Swiss National Cohort Study and from official life expectancy estimates and compare the results with those derived from commonly used survival regression models. We conclude that a censored skew-normal survival regression approach for left-truncated observations can be used to model differences in life expectancy across covariates of interest.

References

Jan 9, 2003·JAMA : the Journal of the American Medical Association·Kevin R FontaineDavid B Allison
Feb 5, 2005·Lifetime Data Analysis·Per Kragh AndersenJohn P Klein
Mar 11, 2008·International Journal of Epidemiology·Matthias BoppMatthias Egger
May 12, 2010·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Mohan SarkarGabrielle L Boulianne
Jun 18, 2010·International Journal of Public Health·Adrian SpoerriMatthias Bopp
Dec 13, 2012·The Journals of Gerontology. Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences·Jeremy S C ClarkAndrzej Ciechanowicz
Jan 8, 2013·BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making·Kurt SchmidlinUNKNOWN Swiss National Cohort
Jun 4, 2013·Biometrics·Anestis TouloumisMaria Kateri
Apr 26, 2014·Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health·Adrian SpoerriUNKNOWN Swiss National Cohort (SNC)
Aug 16, 2014·Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health·André MoserUNKNOWN Swiss National Cohort

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

May 25, 2016·BMC Medical Research Methodology·Silvia RizziRune Lindahl-Jacobsen
Dec 1, 2017·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Samuli Helle

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

Generalized Linkage System
displaystyle
package demography
sn
Stata
R

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.