Contagious statistical distributions: k-connections and applications in infectious disease environments.

Contagious statistical distributions are a valuable resource for managing contagion by means of k-connected chains of distributions. Binomial, hypergeometric, Pólya, uniform distributions with the same values for all parameters except sample size n are known to be strongly associated. This paper describes how the relationship can be obtained via factorial moments, simplifying the process by including novel elements.

Effectiveness of CPAP vs. Noninvasive Ventilation Based on Disease Severity in Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome and Concomitant Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Rationale: Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) with concomitant severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is treated with CPAP or noninvasive ventilation (NIV) during sleep. NIV is costlier, but may be advantageous because it provides ventilatory support. However, there are no long-term trials comparing these treatment modalities based on OHS severity.

Bayesian Meta-Analysis for Binary Data and Prior Distribution on Models.

In meta-analysis, the structure of the between-sample heterogeneity plays a crucial role in estimating the meta-parameter. A Bayesian meta-analysis for binary data has recently been proposed that measures this heterogeneity by clustering the samples and then determining the posterior probability of the cluster models through model selection. The meta-parameter is then estimated using Bayesian model averaging techniques.

Long-term Noninvasive Ventilation in Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome Without Severe OSA: The Pickwick Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is an effective form of treatment in obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) with severe OSA. However, there is paucity of evidence in patients with OHS without severe OSA phenotype.

Research Question: Is NIV effective in OHS without severe OSA phenotype?

Study Design And Methods: In this multicenter, open-label parallel group clinical trial performed at 16 sites in Spain, we randomly assigned 98 stable ambulatory patients with untreated OHS and apnea-hypopnea index < 30 events/h (ie, no severe OSA) to NIV or lifestyle modification (control group) using simple randomization through an electronic database.

Cost-effectiveness of positive airway pressure modalities in obesity hypoventilation syndrome with severe obstructive sleep apnoea.

Background: Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) is treated with either non-invasive ventilation (NIV) or CPAP, but there are no long-term cost-effectiveness studies comparing the two treatment modalities.

Objectives: We performed a large, multicentre, randomised, open-label controlled study to determine the comparative long-term cost and effectiveness of NIV versus CPAP in patients with OHS with severe obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) using hospitalisation days as the primary outcome measure.

Methods: Hospital resource utilisation and within trial costs were evaluated against the difference in effectiveness based on the primary outcome (hospitalisation days/year, transformed and non-transformed in monetary term).

Echocardiographic Changes with Positive Airway Pressure Therapy in Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome. Long-Term Pickwick Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) has been associated with cardiac dysfunction. However, randomized trials assessing the impact of long-term noninvasive ventilation (NIV) or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on cardiac structure and function assessed by echocardiography are lacking. In a prespecified secondary analysis of the largest multicenter randomized controlled trial of OHS (Pickwick Project;  = 221 patients with OHS and coexistent severe obstructive sleep apnea), we compared the effectiveness of three years of NIV and CPAP on structural and functional echocardiographic changes.

Long-term clinical effectiveness of continuous positive airway pressure therapy versus non-invasive ventilation therapy in patients with obesity hypoventilation syndrome: a multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial.

Background: Obesity hypoventilation syndrome is commonly treated with continuous positive airway pressure or non-invasive ventilation during sleep. Non-invasive ventilation is more complex and costly than continuous positive airway pressure but might be advantageous because it provides ventilatory support. To date there have been no long-term trials comparing these treatment modalities.

Bayesian Inference in Auditing with Partial Prior Information Using Maximum Entropy Priors.

Problems in statistical auditing are usually one-sided. In fact, the main interest for auditors is to determine the quantiles of the total amount of error, and then to compare these quantiles with a given fixed by the auditor, so that the accounting statement can be accepted or rejected. Dollar unit sampling (DUS) is a useful procedure to collect sample information, whereby items are chosen with a probability proportional to book amounts and in which the relevant error amount distribution is the distribution of the taints weighted by the book value.

A Bayesian cost-effectiveness analysis of a telemedicine-based strategy for the management of sleep apnoea: a multicentre randomised controlled trial.

Background: Compliance with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is essential in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), but adequate control is not always possible. This is clinically important because CPAP can reverse the morbidity and mortality associated with OSA. Telemedicine, with support provided via a web platform and video conferences, could represent a cost-effective alternative to standard care management.