TY  - JOUR
T1  - ANalytical concerns regarding complications of elective liver resections in a center with low mortality
AU  - Tamhane A, McGwin G
Y1  - 2011/12/01
N1  - 10.1001/archsurg.146.12.1455
JO  - Archives of Surgery
SP  - 1455
EP  - 1455
VL  - 146
IS  - 12
N2  - 
In their study, Andres et al1 report on the development of a score designed to predict morbidity among patients undergoing liver resection. We have several concerns regarding the statistical analyses described in their study. The first relates to the use of a linear regression model to select variables associated with the occurrence of perioperative complications. Even though the study does not describe how a perioperative complication was operationalized, there are 2 possibilities: (1) it is a count variable (ie, number of complications) or (2) it is a binary variable (ie, 0 vs ≥1 complication). In either case, a linear regression model is not appropriate; rather, a Poisson/negative binomial regression model or a logistic regression model would have been the correct tool, respectively.

SN  - 0004-0010
M3  - doi: 10.1001/archsurg.146.12.1455
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archsurg.146.12.1455
ER  -