Analysis of generalized semiparametric mixed varying-coefficients models for longitudinal data.

Abstract

The generalized semiparametric mixed varying-coefficient effects model for longitudinal data can accommodate a variety of link functions and flexibly model different types of covariate effects, including time-constant, time-varying, and covariate-varying effects. The time-varying effects are unspecified functions of time and the covariate-varying effects are nonparametric functions of a possibly time-dependent exposure variable. A semiparametric estimation procedure is developed that uses local linear smoothing and profile weighted least squares, which requires smoothing in the two different and yet connected domains of time and the time-dependent exposure variable. The asymptotic properties of the estimators of both nonparametric and parametric effects are investigated. In addition, hypothesis testing procedures are developed to examine the covariate effects. The finite-sample properties of the proposed estimators and testing procedures are examined through simulations, indicating satisfactory performances. The proposed methods are applied to analyze the ACTG 244 clinical trial to investigate the effects of antiretroviral treatment switching in HIV-infected patients before and after developing the T215Y antiretroviral drug resistance mutation.