title: Baseline predictors of missed visits in the Look AHEAD study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify baseline attributes associated with consecutively missed data collection visits during the first 48 months of Look AHEAD—a randomized, controlled trial in 5,145 overweight/obese adults with type 2 diabetes designed to determine the long-term health benefits of weight loss achieved by lifestyle change.
  
  
  METHODS
  The analyzed sample consisted of 5,016 participants who were alive at month 48 and enrolled at Look AHEAD sites. Demographic, baseline behavior, psychosocial factors, and treatment randomization were included as predictors of missed consecutive visits in proportional hazard models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In multivariate Cox proportional hazard models, baseline attributes of participants who missed consecutive visits (n 5 222) included: younger age (hazard ratio [HR] 1.18 per 5 years younger; 95% confidence Interval 1.05, 1.30), higher depression score (HR 1.04; 1.01, 1.06), non-married status (HR 1.37; 1.04, 1.82), never self-weighing prior to enrollment (HR 2.01; 1.25, 3.23), and randomization to minimal vs. intensive lifestyle intervention (HR 1.46; 1.11, 1.91).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Younger age, symptoms of depression, non-married status, never self-weighing, and randomization to minimal intervention were associated with a higher likelihood of missing consecutive data collection visits, even in a high-retention trial like Look AHEAD. Whether modifications to screening or retention efforts targeted to these attributes might enhance long-term retention in behavioral trials requires further investigation.
authors.forename: Stephanie L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Fitzpatrick
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jeffery
authors.forename: Karen C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Cathy C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Roche
authors.forename: Brent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Van Dorsten
authors.forename: Molly
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gee
authors.forename: Ruby Ann
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Jeanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Charleston
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dotson
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Walkup
authors.forename: Felicia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hill-Briggs
authors.forename: Frederick L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Brancati
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002032:Bulimia / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D059012:Lost to Follow-Up; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011788:Quality of Life; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015431:Weight Loss