A semi-parametric method for describing the age-specific distribution of clinical measurements in cross-sectional study

Hiroshima J Med Sci. 2006 Mar;55(1):17-28.

Abstract

Age-specific distribution of clinical measurements in cross-sectional study is described in this paper. Since the distribution of measurements usually varies with age, a model with an age-dependent structure is needed. We propose here a statistical method for describing the age-specific distribution using an extension of the power-normal-model. The age-dependent parameters are to be estimated through a nonparametric smoothing technique based on the local likelihood method. As a consequence, we can compute a smoothed percentile curve of measurements with reference to age. Several kinds of clinical measurements are analyzed to determine the proposed method.

MeSH terms

  • Age Distribution
  • Aging / blood*
  • C-Reactive Protein / metabolism
  • Cross-Sectional Studies*
  • Erythrocyte Count
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymphocyte Count
  • Magnesium / blood
  • Male
  • Nephelometry and Turbidimetry
  • Phosphates / blood
  • Phosphorus / blood
  • Zinc Compounds / blood

Substances

  • Phosphates
  • Zinc Compounds
  • zinc phosphate
  • Phosphorus
  • C-Reactive Protein
  • Magnesium