Telomere length measurement for longitudinal analysis: implications of assay precision.

We present a small dataset (n = 20) where leukocyte TL was measured 6.6 years apart by both qPCR and SB. The cross-sectional correlations between qPCR and SB were high both at baseline (r = 0.90) and follow-up (r = 0.85), yet their correlation for TL change was poor (r = 0.48). Moreover, the qPCR but not SB data showed strong signatures of measurement error. Through simulation, we show that the statistical power gain from performing a longitudinal analysis is much greater for SB than qPCR. We discuss implications for optimal study design and analysis. PMID: 33564874 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33564874?dopt=Abstract

Source: Am J Epidemiol - February 10, 2021 Category: Epidemiology Authors: Nettle D, Gadalla SM, Lai TP, Susser E, Bateson M, Aviv A Tags: Am J Epidemiol Source Type: research