MEBoost: Variable Selection in the Presence of Measurement Error

Abstract: We present a novel method for variable selection in regression models when covariates are measured with error. The iterative algorithm we propose, MEBoost, follows a path defined by estimating equations that correct for covariate measurement error. Via simulation, we evaluated our method and compare its performance to the recently-proposed Convex Conditioned Lasso (CoCoLasso) and to the "naive" Lasso which does not correct for measurement error. Increasing the degree of measurement error increased prediction error and decreased the probability of accurate covariate selection, but this loss of accuracy was least pronounced when using MEBoost. We illustrate the use of MEBoost in practice by analyzing data from the Box Lunch Study, a clinical trial in nutrition where several variables are based on self-report and hence measured with error.