Assessing response bias from missing quality of life data: the Heckman method.
BACKGROUND
The objective of this study was to demonstrate the use of the Heckman two-step method to assess and correct for bias due to missing health related quality of life (HRQL) surveys in a clinical study of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients.


METHODS
We analyzed data from 2,733 veterans with a confirmed diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes (ACS), including either acute myocardial infarction or unstable angina. HRQL outcomes were assessed by the Short-Form 36 (SF-36) health status survey which was mailed to all patients who were alive 7 months following ACS discharge. We created multivariable models of 7-month post-ACS physical and mental health status using data only from the 1,660 survey respondents. Then, using the Heckman method, we modeled survey non-response and incorporated this into our initial models to assess and correct for potential bias. We used logistic and ordinary least squares regression to estimate the multivariable selection models.


RESULTS
We found that our model of 7-month mental health status was biased due to survey non-response, while the model for physical health status was not. A history of alcohol or substance abuse was no longer significantly associated with mental health status after controlling for bias due to non-response. Furthermore, the magnitude of the parameter estimates for several of the other predictor variables in the MCS model changed after accounting for bias due to survey non-response.


CONCLUSIONS
Recognition and correction of bias due to survey non-response changed the factors that we concluded were associated with HRQL seven months following hospital admission for ACS as well as the magnitude of some associations. We conclude that the Heckman two-step method may be a valuable tool in the assessment and correction of selection bias in clinical studies of HRQL.
Sales
Anne E
AE
HSR&D Center of Excellence, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. ann.sales@med.va.gov
Plomondon
Mary E
ME
Magid
David J
DJ
Spertus
John A
JA
Rumsfeld
John S
JS
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D011336:Probability; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life; D045808:Refusal to Participate; D015983:Selection Bias; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*