Table 3.

Sensitivity of estimates of the per-protocol mortality hazard ratio for five years of treatment (95% confidence interval) to the choice of dose response model when emulating three target trials, The Health Improvement Network 2000–2010

Functional form for treatment a	Target Trial (i): Statins versus no treatment	Target Trial (ii): Statins and antihypertensives versus no treatment	Target Trial (iii): Atorvastatin versus simvastatin
Cumulative dose – linear only	0.84 (0.70, 1.02)	0.85 (0.52, 1.12)	1.13 (0.85, 1.50)
Cumulative dose – linear and quadratic	0.87 (0.73, 1.03)	0.79 (0.42, 1.31)	1.18 (0.88, 1.52)
Cumulative average dose – linear only	0.81 (0.66, 0.97)	0.79 (0.48, 1.03)	1.14 (0.87, 1.46)
Cumulative average dose – linear and quadratic	0.91 (0.76, 1.07)	0.82 (0.35, 1.45)	1.16 (0.88, 1.43)
Cumulative dose in most recent 2 years and in the previous period – linear only	0.89 (0.70, 1.08)	0.85 (0.56, 1.28)	1.31 (0.92, 1.55)
Cumulative dose in most recent 2 years and in the previous period – linear and quadratic	0.92 (0.76, 1.12)	1.05 (0.46, 1.83)	1.23 (0.91, 1.62)