title: Beyond repeated-measures analysis of variance: advanced statistical methods for the analysis of longitudinal data in anesthesia research.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Research in the field of anesthesiology relies heavily on longitudinal designs for answering questions about long-term efficacy and safety of various anesthetic and pain regimens. Yet, anesthesiology research is lagging in the use of advanced statistical methods for analyzing longitudinal data. The goal of this article was to increase awareness of the advantages of modern statistical methods and promote their use in anesthesia research.
  
  
  METHODS
  Here we introduce 2 modern and advanced statistical methods for analyzing longitudinal data: the generalized estimating equations (GEE) and mixed-effects models (MEM). These methods were compared with the conventional repeated-measures analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA) through a clinical example with 2 types of end points (continuous and binary). In addition, we compared GEE and MEM to RM-ANOVA through a simulation study with varying sample sizes, varying number of repeated measures, and scenarios with and without missing data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the clinical study, the 3 methods are found to be similar in terms of statistical estimation, whereas the parameter interpretations are somewhat different. The simulation study shows that the methods of GEE and MEM are more efficient in that they are able to achieve higher power with smaller sample size or lower number of repeated measurements in both complete and missing data scenarios.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on their advantages over RM-ANOVA, GEE and MEM should be strongly considered for the analysis of longitudinal data. In particular, GEE should be used to explore overall average effects, and MEM should be used when subject-specific effects (in addition to overall average effects) are of primary interest.
authors.affiliation: Research Division, Hospital for Special Surgery, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10021, USA. may@hss.edu
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Madhu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazumdar
authors.forename: Stavros G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Memtsoudis
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000009:adverse effects; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012107:Research Design / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors; D014111:Tourniquets; D016896:Treatment Outcome