Trajectory analysis in clinical research

Clinical Kidney Journal, vol. 19, pp. sfag239

Abstract

Trajectory analysis investigates patterns of change over time of variables across various fields, including clinical and public health research. This method is useful for understanding the evolution of behaviors, conditions, and biomarkers (such as serum creatinine, blood pressure, etc.) over time. In medicine, by examining trajectories, researchers can identify distinct clinical patterns and assess the impact of risk factors and interventions on these patterns. This paper explores some theoretical and practical aspects of trajectories analysis by focusing on group-based trajectory models (GBTM) and emphasizing the importance of this approach in clinical research by providing guidance on its implementation using STATA software.

Authors 8

1. Graziella D’Arrigo

   Istituto di Fisiologia Clinica · National Research Council

   Affiliation as printed

   CNR-IFC, Institute of Clinical Physiology of Reggio Calabria ,

2. Mercedes Gori

   Istituto di Fisiologia Clinica · National Research Council

   Affiliation as printed

   CNR-IFC, Institute of Clinical Physiology of Rome ,

3. Nicholas C Chesnaye

   Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam · Amsterdam Public Health · Amsterdam University Medical Centers · University of Amsterdam

   Affiliation as printed

   Amsterdam Public Health, Quality of Care , Amsterdam ,

   ERA Registry, Amsterdam UMC location and the University of Amsterdam, Department of Medical Informatics , Amsterdam ,

4. Kitty J. Jager

   Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam · Amsterdam Public Health · Amsterdam University Medical Centers · University of Amsterdam

   Affiliation as printed

   Amsterdam Public Health, Quality of Care , Amsterdam ,

   ERA Registry, Amsterdam UMC location and the University of Amsterdam, Department of Medical Informatics , Amsterdam ,

5. Friedo Wilhelm Dekker Aachen Department of Clinical Epidemiology

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

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

6. Merel van Diepen Aachen Department of Clinical Epidemiology

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

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

7. Carmine Zoccali

   Biogem · Renal Research Institute

   Affiliation as printed

   Associazione Ipertensione Nefrologia Trapianto Renale (IPNET) , c/o Nefrologia, Grande Ospedale Metropolitano, Reggio Calabria ,

   Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics (Biogem) , Ariano Irpino ,

   Renal Research Institute , New York, NY ,

8. Gio<svanni Tripepi

   Istituto di Fisiologia Clinica · National Research Council · Fondazione Toscana Gabriele Monasterio

   Affiliation as printed

   CNR-IFC, Institute of Clinical Physiology of Reggio Calabria ,

   Fondazione Toscana “Gabriele Monasterio” of Pisa ,