On the design of synthetic case-control studies

Abstract

A design is proposed for "case-control within cohort" studies. In this design, controls are sampled without replacement from failure-free members of the cohort at each distinct failure time. Upon selection, a subject ceases to be eligible for control selection at later failure times. Also, if a subject failing at time t had been selected as a control at t' less than t, then the matched controls at t are selected to have also been at risk at t'. In these circumstances correlation exists between score statistic contributions at t and t'. An estimator is developed for this correlation. A small simulation study compares the design just described to other possible synthetic case-control designs.