Dealing with continuous variables and modelling non-linear associations in healthcare data: practical guide
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Proper handling of continuous variables is crucial in healthcare research, for example, within regression modelling for descriptive, explanatory, or predictive purposes. However, inadequate methods are commonly used. This article highlights the importance of appropriately handling continuous variables, and illustrates the consequences of categorisation. This article also explains why assuming a linear relationship between the independent and dependent variable might be inappropriate, and describes how to use splines or fractional polynomials to model non-linear relationships.
Source: BMJ
Language: English
Subfield: Statistics and Probability
Field: Mathematics
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Funders: University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Cancer Research UK, National Institute for Health and Care Research, Department of Health and Social Care, Imperial College London, University College London, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre
OpenAlex ID: W4412473313