Estimands in observational studies: Some considerations beyond ICH E9 (R1). (6th February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Heng; Wang, Chenguang; Chen, Wei‐Chen; Lu, Nelson; Song, Changhong; Tiwari, Ram; Xu, Yunling; Yue, Lilly Q.
• Is Part Of: Pharmaceutical statistics. Volume 21:Number 5(2022)
• Page Start: 835
• Page End: 844
• Publication Date: 2022-02-06
• Subjects: propensity score -- Rubin causal model -- weighting; Pharmacy -- Statistical methods -- Periodicals; Pharmacy -- Statistics -- Periodicals; 615.10727
• DOI: 10.1002/pst.2196
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1539-1604

Abstract

Abstract: The document ICH E9 (R1) has brought much attention to the concept of estimand in the clinical trials community. ICH stands for International Conference for Harmonization. In this article, we draw attention to one facet of estimand that is not discussed in that document but is crucial in the context of observational studies, namely weighting for covariate balance. How weighting schemes are connected to estimand, or more specifically to one of its five attributes identified in ICH E9 (R1), the attribute of population, is illustrated using the Rubin Causal Model. Three estimands are examined from both theoretical and practical perspectives. Factors that may be considered in choosing among these estimands are discussed.