scholarly journals Bias, precision and timeliness of historical (background) rate comparison methods for vaccine safety monitoring: an empirical multi-database analysis

Author(s):  
Xintong Li ◽  
Lana YH Lai ◽  
Anna Ostropolets ◽  
Faaizah Arshad ◽  
Eng Hooi Tan ◽  
...  

Using real-world data and past vaccination data, we conducted a large-scale experiment to quantify bias, precision and timeliness of different study designs to estimate historical background (expected) compared to post-vaccination (observed) rates of safety events for several vaccines. We used negative (not causally related) and positive control outcomes. The latter were synthetically generated true safety signals with incident rate ratios ranging from 1.5 to 4. Observed vs. expected analysis using within-database historical background rates is a sensitive but unspecific method for the identification of potential vaccine safety signals. Despite good discrimination, most analyses showed a tendency to overestimate risks, with 20%-100% type 1 error, but low (0% to 20%) type 2 error in the large databases included in our study. Efforts to improve the comparability of background and post-vaccine rates, including age-sex adjustment and anchoring background rates around a visit, reduced type 1 error and improved precision but residual systematic error persisted. Additionally, empirical calibration dramatically reduced type 1 to nominal but came at the cost of increasing type 2 error. Our study found that within-database background rate comparison is a sensitive but unspecific method to identify vaccine safety signals. The method is positively biased, with low (<=20%) type 2 error, and 20% to 100% of negative control outcomes were incorrectly identified as safety signals due to type 1 error. Age-sex adjustment and anchoring background rate estimates around a healthcare visit are useful strategies to reduce false positives, with little impact on type 2 error. Sufficient sensitivity was reached for the identification of safety signals by month 1-2 for vaccines with quick uptake (e.g., seasonal influenza), but much later (up to month 9) for vaccines with slower uptake (e.g., varicella-zoster or papillomavirus). Finally, we reported that empirical calibration using negative control outcomes reduces type 1 error to nominal at the cost of increasing type 2 error.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xintong Li ◽  
Lana YH Lai ◽  
Anna Ostropolets ◽  
Faaizah Arshad ◽  
Eng Hooi Tan ◽  
...  

Using real-world data and past vaccination data, we conducted a large-scale experiment to quantify bias, precision and timeliness of different study designs to estimate historical background (expected) compared to post-vaccination (observed) rates of safety events for several vaccines. We used negative (not causally related) and positive control outcomes. The latter were synthetically generated true safety signals with incident rate ratios ranging from 1.5 to 4. Observed vs. expected analysis using within-database historical background rates is a sensitive but unspecific method for the identification of potential vaccine safety signals. Despite good discrimination, most analyses showed a tendency to overestimate risks, with 20%-100% type 1 error, but low (0% to 20%) type 2 error in the large databases included in our study. Efforts to improve the comparability of background and post-vaccine rates, including age-sex adjustment and anchoring background rates around a visit, reduced type 1 error and improved precision but residual systematic error persisted. Additionally, empirical calibration dramatically reduced type 1 to nominal but came at the cost of increasing type 2 error.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Hao Cheng

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] Universities commercialize their discoveries at an increasing pace in order to maximize their economic impact and generate additional funding for research. They form technology transfer offices (TTOs) to evaluate the commercial value of university inventions and choose the most promising ones to patent and commercialize. Uncertainties and asymmetric information in project selection make the TTO choices difficult and can cause both type 1 error (forgo valuable discoveries) and type 2 error (select low-value discoveries). In this dissertation, I examine the TTO's project selection process and the factors that influence the choice of academic inventions for patenting and commercialization, the type 1 error committed, and the final licensing outcome. The dissertation contains three essays. In the first essay, I analyze project selection under uncertainty when both the quality of the proposed project and the motives of the applicant are uncertain. Some inventors may have an incentive to disguise the true quality and commercial value of their discoveries in order to conform to organizational expectations of disclosure while retaining rights to potentially pursue commercialization of their discoveries outside the organization's boundaries for their own benefit. Inventors may equally, ex post, lose interest to the commercialization of their invention due to competing job demands. I develop a model to examine the decision process of a university TTO responsible for the commercialization of academic inventions under such circumstances. The model describes the conditions that prompt Type 1 and Type 2 errors and allows for inferences for minimizing each. Little is known about the factors that make project selection effective or the opposite and there has been limited empirical analysis in this area. The few empirical studies that are available, examine the sources of type 2 error but there is no empirical work that analyzes type 1 error and the contributing factors. Research on type 1 error encounters two main difficulties. First, it is difficult to ascertain the decision process and second, it is challenging to approximate the counterfactual. Using data from the TTO of the University of Missouri, in the second essay I study the factors that influence the project selection process of the TTO in and the ex post type 1 error realized. In most cases, universities pursue commercialization of their inventions through licensing. There have been a few empirical studies that have researched the factors that affect licensing and their relative importance. In the third essay, I examine the characteristics of university inventions that are licensed using almost 10 years of data on several hundred of inventions, their characteristics, and the licensing status.


Author(s):  
Jiao Chen ◽  
Yuan Li ◽  
Jianfeng Yu ◽  
Wenbin Tang

Tolerance modeling is the most basic issue in Computer Aided Tolerancing (CAT). It will negatively influence the performance of subsequent activities such as tolerance analysis to a great extent if the resultant model cannot accurately represent variations in tolerance zone. According to ASME Y14.5M Standard [1], there is a class of profile tolerances for lines and surfaces which should also be interpreted correctly. Aim at this class of tolerances, the paper proposes a unified framework called DOFAS for representing them which composed of three parts: a basic DOF (Degrees of Freedom) model for interpreting geometric variations for profiles, an assessment method for filtering out and rejecting those profiles cannot be accurately represented and a split algorithm for splitting rejected profiles into sub profiles to make their variations interpretable. The scope of discussion in this paper is restricted to the line profiles; we will focus on the surface profiles in forthcoming papers. From the DOF model, two types of errors result from the rotations of the features are identified and formulized. One type of the errors is the result of the misalignment between profile boundary and tolerance zone boundary (noted as type 1); and if the feature itself exceeds the range of tolerance zone the other type of errors will form (noted as type 2). Specifically, it is required that the boundary points of the line profile should align with the corresponding boundary lines of the tolerance zone and an arbitrary point of the line profile should lie within the tolerance zone when line profile rotates in the tolerance zone. To make DOF model as accurate as possible, an assessment method and a split algorithm are developed to evaluate and eliminate these two type errors. It is clear that not all the line features carry the two type errors; as such the assessment method is used as a filter for checking and reserving such features that are consistent with the error conditions. In general, feature with simple geometry is error-free and selected by the filter whereas feature with complex geometry is rejected. According to the two type errors, two sub-procedures of the assessment process are introduced. The first one mathematically is a scheme of solving the maximum deviation of rotation trajectories of profile boundary, so as to neglect the type 1 error if it approaches to zero. The other one is to solve the maximum deviation of trajectories of all points of the feature: type 2 error can be ignored when the retrieved maximum deviation is not greater than prescribed threshold, so that the feature will always stay within the tolerance zone. For such features rejected by the filter which are inconsistent with the error conditions, the split algorithm, which is spread into the three cases of occurrence of type 1 error, occurrence of type 2 error and concurrence of two type errors, is developed to ease their errors. By utilizing and analyzing the geometric and kinematic properties of the feature, the split point is recognized and obtained accordingly. Two sub-features are retrieved from the split point and then substituted into the DOFAS framework recursively until all split features can be represented in desired resolution. The split algorithm is efficient and self-adapting lies in the fact that the rules applied can ensure high convergence rate and expected results. Finally, the implementation with two examples indicates that the DOFAS framework is capable of representing profile tolerances with enhanced accuracy thus supports the feasibility of the proposed approach.


1986 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin D. Bird ◽  
Wayne Hall

Statistical power is neglected in much psychiatric research, with the consequence that many studies do not provide a reasonable chance of detecting differences between groups if they exist in the population. This paper attempts to improve current practice by providing an introduction to the essential quantities required for performing a power analysis (sample size, effect size, type 1 and type 2 error rates). We provide simplified tables for estimating the sample size required to detect a specified size of effect with a type 1 error rate of α and a type 2 error rate of β, and for estimating the power provided by a given sample size for detecting a specified size of effect with a type 1 error rate of α. We show how to modify these tables to perform power analyses for multiple comparisons in univariate and some multivariate designs. Power analyses for each of these types of design are illustrated by examples.


1984 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 563-568
Author(s):  
J. N. B. SHRESTHA ◽  
P. S. FISER ◽  
L. AINSWORTH

A comparison was made of raddle markings and presence of spermatozoa in vaginal smears as a means of predicting which ewes will subsequently lamb. Data were obtained from 308 ewe lambs (6–7.5 mo old) and 464 sexually mature ewes (26–28 mo old) mated to experienced rams at the synchronized estrus induced by treatment with fluorogestone-acetate-impregnated intravaginal sponges and i.m. injection of pregnant mares' serum gonadotrophin. Ewes raddled during 12 h intervals from 0 to 72 h after sponge removal were recorded. Vaginal smears taken 48 and 72 h after sponge removal were examined microscopically for presence of spermatozoa. Of the ewes raddled, 41% of the ewe lambs and 86% of mature ewes, lambed. Corresponding results based on presence of spermatozoa in combined vaginal smears data were 51 and 89%. In ewe lambs, 96% of the ewes with no raddle markings and 100% of the ewes with no spermatozoa in vaginal smears were not pregnant. Corresponding results for mature ewes were 56 and 95%, respectively. This study shows that the presence of spermatozoa in vaginal smears 48 and 72 h after induction of a synchronized estrus improves the accuracy of predicting ewes that subsequently lamb to matings at the synchronized estrus over that based on ewes raddled. This improvement results from a reduction in the number of ewe lambs predicted as bred that failed to lamb (Type 1 error), and a substantial improvement in the percentage of mature ewes predicted as non-pregnant that subsequently lambed (Type 2 error). Key words: Raddle markings, spermatozoa, vaginal smears, synchronized estrus, lambing, ewes


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martijn J Schuemie ◽  
Faaizah Arshad ◽  
Nicole Pratt ◽  
Fredrik Nyberg ◽  
Thamir M Alshammari ◽  
...  

Background: Routinely collected healthcare data such as administrative claims and electronic health records (EHR) can complement clinical trials and spontaneous reports when ensuring the safety of vaccines, but uncertainty remains about what epidemiological design to use. Methods: Using 3 claims and 1 EHR database, we evaluate several variants of the case-control, comparative cohort, historical comparator, and self-controlled designs against historical vaccinations with real negative control outcomes (outcomes with no evidence to suggest that they could be caused by the vaccines) and simulated positive controls. Results: Most methods show large type 1 error, often identifying false positive signals. The cohort method appears either positively or negatively biased, depending on the choice of comparator index date. Empirical calibration using effect-size estimates for negative control outcomes can restore type 1 error to close to nominal, often at the cost of increasing type 2 error. After calibration, the self-controlled case series (SCCS) design shows the shortest time to detection for small true effect sizes, while the historical comparator performs well for strong effects. Conclusions: When applying any method for vaccine safety surveillance we recommend considering the potential for systematic error, especially due to confounding, which for many designs appears to be substantial. Adjusting for age and sex alone is likely not sufficient to address the differences between vaccinated and unvaccinated, and for the cohort method the choice of index date plays an important role in the comparability of the groups Inclusion of negative control outcomes allows both quantification of the systematic error and, if so desired, subsequent empirical calibration to restore type 1 error to its nominal value. In order to detect weaker signals, one may have to accept a higher type 1 error.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maximilian Maier ◽  
Daniel Lakens

The default use of an alpha level of 0.05 is suboptimal for two reasons. First, decisions based on data can be made more efficiently by choosing an alpha level that minimizes the combined Type 1 and Type 2 error rate. Second, it is possible that in studies with very high statistical power p-values lower than the alpha level can be more likely when the null hypothesis is true, than when the alternative hypothesis is true (i.e., Lindley's paradox). This manuscript explains two approaches that can be used to justify a better choice of an alpha level than relying on the default threshold of 0.05. The first approach is based on the idea to either minimize or balance Type 1 and Type 2 error rates. The second approach lowers the alpha level as a function of the sample size to prevent Lindley's paradox. An R package and Shiny app are provided to perform the required calculations. Both approaches have their limitations (e.g., the challenge of specifying relative costs and priors), but can offer an improvement to current practices, especially when sample sizes are large. The use of alpha levels that have a better justification should improve statistical inferences and can increase the efficiency and informativeness of scientific research.


2012 ◽  
pp. 105-114
Author(s):  
Steve McKillup ◽  
Melinda Darby Dyar
Keyword(s):  

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Monika Russel-Szymczyk ◽  
Vasil Valov ◽  
Alexandra Savova ◽  
Manoela Manova

Abstract Background This analysis evaluates the cost-effectiveness of insulin degludec (degludec) versus biosimilar insulin glargine U100 (glargine U100) in patients with type 1 (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Bulgaria. Methods A simple, short-term model was used to compare the treatment costs and outcomes associated with hypoglycaemic events with degludec versus glargine U100 in patients with T1DM and T2DM from the perspective of the Bulgarian National Health Insurance Fund. Cost-effectiveness was analysed over a 1-year time horizon using data from clinical trials. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was the main outcome measure. Results In Bulgaria, degludec was highly cost-effective versus glargine U100 in people with T1DM and T2DM. The ICERs were estimated to be 4493.68 BGN/quality-adjusted life year (QALY) in T1DM, 399.11 BGN/QALY in T2DM on basal oral therapy (T2DMBOT) and 7365.22 BGN/QALY in T2DM on basal bolus therapy (T2DMB/B), which are below the cost-effectiveness threshold of 39,619 BGN in Bulgaria. Degludec was associated with higher insulin costs in all three patient groups; however, savings from a reduction in hypoglycaemic events with degludec versus glargine U100 partially offset these costs. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the results were robust and largely insensitive to variations in input parameters. At a willingness-to-pay threshold of 39,619 BGN/QALY, the probability of degludec being cost-effective versus glargine U100 was 60.0% in T1DM, 99.4% in T2DMBOT and 91.3% in T2DMB/B. Conclusion Degludec is a cost-effective alternative to biosimilar glargine U100 for patients with T1DM and T2DM in Bulgaria. Degludec could be of particular benefit to those patients suffering recurrent hypoglycaemia and those who require additional flexibility in the dosing of insulin.


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