Parameters:
(1) percent of people still taking the drug at time T after starting
(2) fraction of patients taking the drug who are responding to the drug at time T
LUNDEX =
= (percent of people still in the study at time T) * (fraction responding at time T)
Interpretation:
• minimum LUNDEX: 0 percent
• maximum LUNDEX: 100 percent
• A high LUNDEX suggests an efficacious drug.
• The values for the LUNDEX can be plotted over time.
Key issues:
(1) The measure used to define response.
(2) The usual time course of the disorder. The index presumably is more useful for a chronic, stable disorder.
(3) Any deviation of patients from the usual time course of the disease (fulminant disease, etc).
(4) A low percent of patients still taking the drug may indicate a high rate of adverse effects.
A similar value for partial response could be followed in the same way.
