Regression-based reference limits: determination of sufficient sample size

Author:

Virtanen Arja1,Kairisto Veli12,Uusipaikka Esa3

Affiliation:

1. Central Laboratory, University Central Hospital of Turku/Mircit (Medical Informatics Research Centre in Turku), FIN-20521 Turku, Finland

2. Departments of Clinical Chemistry, University of Turku, FIN-20500 Turku, Finland

3. Departments of Statistics, University of Turku, FIN-20500 Turku, Finland

Abstract

Abstract Regression analysis is the method of choice for the production of covariate-dependent reference limits. There are currently no recommendations on what sample size should be used when regression-based reference limits and confidence intervals are calculated. In this study we used Monte Carlo simulation to study a reference sample group of 374 age-dependent hemoglobin values. From this sample, 5000 random subsamples, with replacement, were constructed with 10–220 observations per sample. Regression analysis was used to estimate age-dependent 95% reference intervals for hemoglobin concentrations and erythrocyte counts. The maximum difference between mean values of the root mean square error and original values for hemoglobin was 0.05 g/L when the sample size was ≥60. The parameter estimators and width of reference intervals changed negligibly from the values calculated from the original sample regardless of what sample size was used. SDs and CVs for these factors changed rapidly up to a sample size of 30; after that changes were smaller. The largest and smallest absolute differences in root mean square error and width of reference interval between sample values and values calculated from the original sample were also evaluated. As expected, differences were largest in small sample sizes, and as sample size increased differences decreased. To obtain appropriate reference limits and confidence intervals, we propose the following scheme: (a) check whether the assumptions of regression analysis can be fulfilled with/without transformation of data; (b) check that the value of v, which describes how the covariate value is situated in relation to both the mean value and the spread of the covariate values, does not exceed 0.1 at minimum and maximum covariate positions; and (c) if steps 1 and 2 can be accepted, the reference limits with confidence intervals can be produced by regression analysis, and the minimum acceptable sample size will be ∼70.

Publisher

Oxford University Press (OUP)

Subject

Biochemistry (medical),Clinical Biochemistry

Cited by 46 articles. 订阅此论文施引文献 订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3