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QJM Advance Access published online on August 8, 2008
QJM, doi:10.1093/qjmed/hcn099
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© The Author 2008. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Association of Physicians. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

When it is better to estimate a slope with only one point

R. Thiébaut1,2,3 and S. Walker4

From the 1INSERM U897 Epidemiology & Biostatistics 2Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2, F-33076 Bordeaux, France 3Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Institute of Child Health, University College London and 4Medical Research Council – Clinical Trial Unit, London, UK

Address correspondence to R. Thiébaut, INSERM U897 Epidemiology & Biostatistics, ISPED, Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2, 146 rue Léo Saignat 33076 Bordeaux Cedex, France. email: rodolphe.thiebaut{at}isped.u-bordeaux2.fr


  Abstract

When investigating the change in a biomarker, it is often believed that at least two measurements are needed from each participant, and that those with only one measurement should be excluded. In this short note, we explain why this could lead to imprecise and biased estimates. Furthermore, we discuss a standard statistical method that handles such issues.


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