PMID: 9185287Mar 1, 1997Paper

The EM algorithm and medical studies: a historical link

Statistical Methods in Medical Research
X L Meng

Abstract

Anderson Gray McKendrick's 1926 paper, 'Applications of mathematics to medical problems', was the earliest reference cited in Dempster et al.'s 1977 paper that defined and popularized the EM algorithm. McKendrick's paper was prominently featured by Joseph Oscar Irwin in his 1962 inaugural address as the President of the Royal Statistical Society (in the UK), entitled 'The place of mathematics in medical and biological statistics'. The link of McKendrick's work to the EM algorithm is due to an improvement made by Irwin on a novel method McKendrick used for estimating an infection rate when the observed data do not distinguish between those individuals who are not susceptible to the infection and those who are susceptible, but do not develop symptoms. This article examines this link, along the way illustrating the central ideas underlying the EM algorithm as well as its properties; the examination also suggests a profiling strategy for speeding up EM, which may be worthy of general investigation. McKendrick's data on an epidemic of cholera are used for illustration and to compare EM with Irwin's method as well as the Newton-Raphson algorithm. Issues beyond computation are also discussed whenever appropriate.

Citations

Feb 16, 2006·Statistical Methods in Medical Research·Andy H LeeGeoffrey J McLachlan
Feb 13, 2016·American Journal of Epidemiology·Jamie PerinMartin J Aryee
Nov 8, 2018·Multivariate Behavioral Research·Carla FerraraMaurizio Vichi
Dec 11, 2008·Biometrical Journal. Biometrische Zeitschrift·Chukiat ViwatwongkasemPratana Satitvipawee
Feb 13, 2008·Statistics in Medicine·Feng-Chang XieJin-Guan Lin
May 20, 2014·Statistical Methods in Medical Research·Iain L MacDonald
Mar 1, 1997·Statistical Methods in Medical Research·G J McLachlan
May 26, 2018·Biometrical Journal. Biometrische Zeitschrift·Yin LiuKam Chuen Yuen
May 29, 1999·Statistical Methods in Medical Research·J Barnard, X L Meng
Jan 23, 1999·Medical Decision Making : an International Journal of the Society for Medical Decision Making·G H de BockJ Kievit

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