The use of Cox regression and genetic algorithm (CoRGA) for identifying risk factors for mortality in older people

The increase in the proportion and number of older people in developed countries has resulted in research investigating risk factors for adverse health outcomes, including mortality. However, research has been limited by the range of risk factors included in regression models. This is partly because...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ahmad, Rabiah, Bath, Peter A
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publications 2004
Subjects:
Online Access:http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/10029/1/rabiahahmad2004_theuseof%20coxregression.pdf
http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/10029/
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1460458204042236
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The increase in the proportion and number of older people in developed countries has resulted in research investigating risk factors for adverse health outcomes, including mortality. However, research has been limited by the range of risk factors included in regression models. This is partly because traditional statistical methods and software packages allow a restricted number of variables and combinations of variables. This article describes ongoing research to overcome these limitations through the CoRGA program, which combines Cox regression with a genetic algorithm for the variable selection process. CoRGA was used to try and identify the best combination of risk factors for 4-year all-cause mortality. The combination of 10 risk factors identified by CoRGA included both known and new risk factors for mortality in older people. Further research is seeking to develop the program further and to identify further risk factors for all-cause mortality in older people.