title: On the performance of multiple imputation based on chained equations in tackling missing data of the African α3.7 -globin deletion in a malaria association study.
abstract: Multiple imputation based on chained equations (MICE) is an alternative missing genotype method that can use genetic and nongenetic auxiliary data to inform the imputation process. Previously, MICE was successfully tested on strongly linked genetic data. We have now tested it on data of the HBA2 gene which, by the experimental design used in a malaria association study in Tanzania, shows a high missing data percentage and is weakly linked with the remaining genetic markers in the data set. We constructed different imputation models and studied their performance under different missing data conditions. Overall, MICE failed to accurately predict the true genotypes. However, using the best imputation model for the data, we obtained unbiased estimates for the genetic effects, and association signals of the HBA2 gene on malaria positivity. When the whole data set was analyzed with the same imputation model, the association signal increased from 0.80 to 2.70 before and after imputation, respectively. Conversely, postimputation estimates for the genetic effects remained the same in relation to the complete case analysis but showed increased precision. We argue that these postimputation estimates are reasonably unbiased, as a result of a good study design based on matching key socio-environmental factors.
authors.affiliation: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Centre of Statistics and Applications of University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Nuno
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sepúlveda
authors.forename: Alphaxard
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manjurano
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Drakeley
authors.forename: Taane G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Clark
mesh_terms: D044383:Black People / Q000235:genetics*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D066264:Datasets as Topic; D005260:Female; D017353:Gene Deletion; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D018740:Genetic Heterogeneity; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008957:Models, Genetic; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010641:Phenotype; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology; D055542:alpha-Globins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D055542:alpha-Globins
keywords: Genotype imputation; HBA2 gene; malaria positivity; multiple imputation based on chained equations