Year: 2012
Type: article
Abstract: Aim: To analyse pre-existing clinical and laboratory data on CLL patients, explore relationships between immune cell markers and prognosis and find novel ways of presenting large, complex datasets in simple visual forms.Method: Data was analysed using the software environment "R".Computer programming scripts were generated to analyse the dataset using multivariate analysis and 3D correlation graphs.Results: Three statistically significant (p<0.05)novel prognostic markers were discovered and trends towards significance were seen in a further two.Four novel visualisations were produced depicting the change in immune cell populations with age and how these changes are distinct to those seen in CLL.Conclusions: The five novel prognostic markers discovered have already led to new research threads and may have significant clinical use.The four visualisations have already been used in demonstrations to a lay audience.Computer programming and data visualisation is an under-exploited tool in all aspects of medicine.Although the quantity of literature has increased exponentially, methods of analysing complex data and presenting it in a simple, meaningful form is severely lacking.Although this project used CLL data, showing and explaining data to patients is part of the daily routine for the modern clinician, in all fields of medicine.
Source: International Journal of Surgery
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2061704256