Adaptive Regression for Nonlinear Interrupted Time Series Analyses with Application to Birth Defects in Children of Vietnam War Veterans

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview adaptive regression modeling and demonstrate its use in conducting nonlinear analyses interrupted time series (ITS) data. Adaptive based on heuristic search over alternative models for data controlled by likelihood-cross validation (LCV) scores with larger indicating better models. Extended linear mixed are used correlated like ITS Power transforms predictor variables account nonlinearity. assessing effects demonstrated using annual proportions major birth defects children fathered male Air Force veterans the Vietnam War a 59-year period. interruption conception after versus before start participant’s first tour War. Whether effect related dioxin exposure also addressed. Dioxin highly toxic contaminant herbicide Agent Orange core findings reported that substantial adverse identified can reasonably be attributed participants having high level. Moreover, these results indicate identify general situations lead consequential insights into relationships time, possibly varying other available predictors.