This thesis presents a Bayesian approach to Meta-Regression and Individual Patient Data (IPD) Meta-analysis. The focus of the research is on establishing the relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and all-cause mortality. This has been an area of continuing interest in the medical and public health communities and no concensus has been reached on what the optimal weight for individuals is. Standards are usually speci ed in terms of body mass index (BMI = wt(kg) over height(m)2 ) which is associated with body fat percentage. Many studies in the literature have modelled the relationship between BMI and mortality and reported a variety of relationships including U-shaped, J-shaped and linear curves. The aim of my research was to use statistical methods to determine whether we can combine these diverse results an obtain single estimated relationship, using which one can nd the point of minimum mortality and establish reasonable ranges for optimal BMI or how we can best examine the reasons for the heterogeneity of results. Commonly used techniques of Meta-analysis and Meta-regression are explored and a problem with the estimation procedure in the multivariate setting is presented. A Bayesian approach using Hierarchical Generalized Linear Mixed Model is suggested and implemented to overcome this drawback of standard estimation techniques. Another area which is explored briefly is that of Individual Patient Data meta-analysis. A Frailty model or Random Effects Proportional Hazards Survival model approach is proposed to carry out IPD meta-regression and come up with a single estimated relationship between BMI and mortality, adjusting for the variation between studies. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Statistics in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Fall Semester, 2007. / June 3, 2007. / Bayesian Hierarchical Models, Frailty Models, BMI, Meta-Analysis, Meta-Regression / Includes bibliographical references. / Dan McGee, Professor Directing Dissertation; Myra Hurt, Outside Committee Member; Xiufeng Niu, Committee Member; Fred Huffer, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_180992 |
| Contributors | Marker, Mahtab (authoraut), McGee, Dan (professor directing dissertation), Hurt, Myra (outside committee member), Niu, Xiufeng (committee member), Huffer, Fred (committee member), Department of Statistics (degree granting department), Florida State University (degree granting institution) |
| Publisher | Florida State University, Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource, computer, application/pdf |
| Rights | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them. |
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