Choice of imputation method for missing metastatic status affected estimates of metastatic prostate cancer incidence.

• OBJECTIVES: To study how handling missing data on M stage in a clinical cancer register affects estimates of incidence of metastatic prostate cancer.STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Estimates of age-standardized incidence of metastatic prostate cancer were obtained by use of data in a population-based clinical cancer register in Sweden and using four methods for imputation of missing M stage. Adjusted survival was used to compare men with known and imputed M stage.RESULTS: The proportion of men with missing M stage was high (66%) and varied according to risk group and over calendar time. The estimated incidence of metastatic disease varied depending on imputation method, with all methods indicating a decreasing incidence over time. A combination of deterministic imputation and multiple imputation produced adjusted survival curves for men with imputed M stage that best resembled the survival for men with known M stage.CONCLUSIONS: Plausible estimates of incidence of metastatic prostate cancer in clinical cancer registers can be obtained by use of a combination of deterministic imputation of missing M stage and multiple imputation.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Cancer och onkologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cancer and Oncology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

TNM staging

imaging

incidence

metastases

missing data

prostate cancer

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)