Let continuous outcome variables remain continuous

Comput Math Methods Med. 2012:2012:639124. doi: 10.1155/2012/639124. Epub 2012 May 29.

Abstract

The complementary log-log is an alternative to logistic model. In many areas of research, the outcome data are continuous. We aim to provide a procedure that allows the researcher to estimate the coefficients of the complementary log-log model without dichotomizing and without loss of information. We show that the sample size required for a specific power of the proposed approach is substantially smaller than the dichotomizing method. We find that estimators derived from proposed method are consistently more efficient than dichotomizing method. To illustrate the use of proposed method, we employ the data arising from the NHSI.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Algorithms
  • Biostatistics / methods*
  • Body Mass Index
  • Computer Simulation
  • Humans
  • Likelihood Functions
  • Middle Aged
  • Models, Statistical
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Obesity / epidemiology
  • Odds Ratio
  • Regression Analysis