Variance computations for functionals of absolute risk estimates

• Published in: Statistics & probability letters Vol. 81; no. 7; pp. 807 - 812
• Main Authors: Pfeiffer, R.M., Petracci, E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-07-2011; Elsevier
• Series: Statistics & Probability Letters
• Subjects: Absolute risk; Absolute risk Functional delta method Bootstrap; Bootstrap; Functional delta method; Bootstrap; Functional delta method; Absolute risk
• ISSN: 0167-7152; 1879-2103
• DOI: 10.1016/j.spl.2011.02.002

We present a simple influence function based approach for computing the variances of estimates of absolute risk and functions of absolute risk. We apply this approach to criteria that assess the impact of changes in the risk factor distribution on absolute risk for an individual and at the population level. As an illustration we use an absolute risk prediction model for breast cancer that includes modifiable risk factors in addition to standard breast cancer risk factors. Influence function based variance estimates for absolute risk and the criteria are compared to bootstrap variance estimates.