Application of propensity score matching in the design of an epidemiological study
10.3760/cma.j.issn.0254-6450.2009.05.025
- VernacularTitle:倾向评分配比在流行病学设计中的应用
- Author:
Zhi-Wen LI
1
;
Le ZHANG
;
Jian-Meng LIU
;
Ai-Guo PEN
Author Information
1. 北京大学医学部
- Keywords:
Propensity score matching;
Confounding bias;
Epidemiology
- From:
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology
2009;30(5):514-517
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
In this article, we presented the rationale and calculation procedures of the propcnsity score matching (PSM), and its application in the designing stage of an cpidcrniological study. Based on existing observational data, PSM can be used to select one or more comparable controls for each subject in 'treatment' group according to the propensity scores estimated by 'treatment' variable and main covariates. The results of an example analysis showed that the bias for main confounders between the treated and control samples declined more than 55% after PMS. Conclusion: PSM can reduce most of the confounding bias of the observational study, and can obtain approximate study effect to the randomized controlled trials when used in the designing of thc cpidcmiological study.