Relation between three classes of structural models for the effect of a time-varying exposure on survival

Lifetime Data Anal. 2010 Jan;16(1):71-84. doi: 10.1007/s10985-009-9135-3. Epub 2009 Nov 6.

Abstract

Standard methods for estimating the effect of a time-varying exposure on survival may be biased in the presence of time-dependent confounders themselves affected by prior exposure. This problem can be overcome by inverse probability weighted estimation of Marginal Structural Cox Models (Cox MSM), g-estimation of Structural Nested Accelerated Failure Time Models (SNAFTM) and g-estimation of Structural Nested Cumulative Failure Time Models (SNCFTM). In this paper, we describe a data generation mechanism that approximately satisfies a Cox MSM, an SNAFTM and an SNCFTM. Besides providing a procedure for data simulation, our formal description of a data generation mechanism that satisfies all three models allows one to assess the relative advantages and disadvantages of each modeling approach. A simulation study is also presented to compare effect estimates across the three models.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Computer Simulation
  • Data Interpretation, Statistical*
  • Humans
  • Models, Statistical*
  • Survival Analysis*