Mecor: An R package for measurement error correction in linear regression models with a continuous outcome

Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine, vol. 208, pp. 106238

Abstract

Measurement error in a covariate or the outcome of regression models is common, but is often ignored, even though measurement error can lead to substantial bias in the estimated covariate-outcome association. While several texts on measurement error correction methods are available, these methods remain seldomly applied. To improve the use of measurement error correction methodology, we developed mecor, an R package that implements measurement error correction methods for regression models with a continuous outcome. Measurement error correction requires information about the measurement error model and its parameters. This information can be obtained from four types of studies, used to estimate the parameters of the measurement error model: an internal validation study, a replicates study, a calibration study and an external validation study. In the package mecor, regression calibration methods and a maximum likelihood method are implemented to correct for measurement error in a continuous covariate in regression analyses. Additionally, methods of moments methods are implemented to correct for measurement error in the continuous outcome in regression analyses. Variance estimation of the corrected estimators is provided in closed form and using the bootstrap.

Authors 4

1. Linda Nab Aachen Department of Clinical Epidemiology

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands. Electronic address: l.nab@lumc.nl

   LEIDEN UNIVERSITY (MEDICAL CENTER)

2. Maarten van Smeden

   Utrecht University · University Medical Center Utrecht

   Affiliation as printed

   Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands

3. Ruth H. Keogh

   London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Medical Statistics, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom

   Department of Medical Statistics London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine London United Kingdom

4. Rolf H. H. Groenwold Aachen Department of Clinical Epidemiology

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands; Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands

   Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands