THE CAMBRIDGE STATISTICS DISCUSSION GROUP


                 Thursday 3rd May 2007 7:15 for 7:45



                       Hopkinson Room,
            University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory,
                   Pembroke Street, Cambridge







          Statistical Methods in Psoriatic Arthritis






                         Brian Tom
                     MRC Biostatistics,
                          Cambridge


Abstract:
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory arthritis associated with 
psoriasis and usually seronegative for rheumatoid factor. 
Prior to the mid 1980s, it was considered a benign disease, with 
short-lived synovitis that did not lead to residual damage in most 
patients. It is now known to be a much more serious disease, with many 
PsA patients developing clinical deformities and damage, and experiencing 
disease progression over time, which may impact on their quality of life. 
In this talk, I'll describe some of the recent work that I've been 
involved in with this disease. In particular, I'll concentrate on the 
physical functioning aspect of the disease as measured through the 
administration of the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), although some 
mention of the epidemiological and statistical work on mortality will be 
presented as well. Some of the statistical methods/models used in these 
projects were multi-state Markov models, two-part generalized linear 
mixed models, poisson regression and "rolling average" standardized 
mortality ratios (SMR).




Speaker: 
Brian Tom is a biostatistician working at the Medical Research Council 
Biostatistics Unit (MRC BSU) in Cambridge. He read for his PhD at the 
Statistical Laboratory, University of Cambridge under the supervision of 
Dr Pat Altham. After completing his PhD in September 1997, he took up an 
academic statistical consulting position in the then newly formed 
Centre for Applied Medical Statistics (CAMS) within the University of 
Cambridge's Department of Public Health and Primary Care (at the time known 
as the Department of Community Medicine). 
He spent three years at CAMS before making a move to the Epidemiology 
for Policy Group in the same department to work as a project statistician 
on Department of Health funded projects into mental health, and on projects 
to do with health care improvement in chronic diseases. 
His next job move in December 2001 was to the MRC BSU as a research 
statistician, where he is at present. He has worked on a number of 
research areas during his career, ranging from epidemiology to statistical 
bioinformatics, and also lectures on the MPhil in Statistical Science and 
has, in the past, lectured on and been an examiner for the MPhil in 
Epidemiology in the University.





Directions: 
Directions: Enter the New Museums site through the arch from Pembroke Street.
Turn to the left in front of the building with the brown iron staircase
and pass through the passage way by the tree. Enter the lobby which is
straight in front of you and find the back entrance to the Computer Service
on the left. When inside follow the signs to the Hopkinson Room.
It is not possible to park on the New Museums site in the evening.
The back entrance to the Computer Service will be locked at 7:45.
Arrivals after 7:45 can gain admittance by contacting the secretary on
07761769436.




Provisional Next Meetings: 
9th October - Matt Whiley (Amgen).
28th November - David Edwards (Cambridgeshire & P'boro Public Health
Network).

Supper: Some members eat regularly in the University Centre before
each meeting at 6pm. Feel free to join them.

Subscriptions: of 1 pound are now due for attending the 2006-2007 session.

Secretary: Peter Watson, MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, 
15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge CB2 7EF;telephone 01223 355294 Extension 801; 
E-mail [log in to unmask]