Semiparametric partially linear marginal models for binary and count longitudinal data with dropouts

In this thesis, we investigate semiparametric partially linear marginal models
for binary and count longitudinal data with dropouts. Specifically, we focus on
the joint estimation of the marginal mean, association and dispersion parameters
through generalized second-order estimating equations where the marginal mean
response model is partially linear.
We discuss a series of weighted generalized estimating equations (GEEs) to fit
regression models to binary and count longitudinal responses when dropouts occur.
The proposed method offers efficient estimators of the model parameters under a
specified missing data mechanism. Simulations are conducted to examine the robustness characteristics of the method suggested under both accurately defined and
inaccurately stated correlation frameworks. The approach is also demonstrated using some real missing longitudinal data on patterns of smoking, where the goal is to
study the development of coronary arteries in young adults.
A semiparametric approach for analyzing binary and longitudinal count data
is also developed. We used the second-order GEE approach to examine longitudinal responses in partially linear models. Additionally, the smoothing technique
is suggested for estimating the nonparametric part of the model based on a spline
approximation. In simulations, the analytical properties of the proposed method
are evaluated. The proposed estimator effectively takes into consideration the association within the subject/cluster and is easy to implement. Our simulation study
shows that when the underlying model is partly linear, the proposed method offers
unbiased and efficient estimators.
Next, we propose a weighted regression spline second-order GEE approach for
simultaneous estimation of the nonlinear function, regression, association and dispersion parameters in partially linear models with dropouts. As an application of
the proposed semiparametric weighted GEE, we analyzed some longitudinal count
data obtained from a health survey, referred to as the Health and Retirement study
(HRS)(HRS, 2019), where the mean response function shows a nonlinear trend in
terms of associated covariates. The results from the data analysis appear to be very
encouraging. From this application it is evident that our proposed methods can
be used to improve the efficiency of the estimates obtained from an ordinary GEE
model for longitudinal binary and count data with dropouts.