A random subset implementation of weighted quantile sum (WQSRS) regression for analysis of high-dimensional mixtures

Here we introduce a novel implementation of weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression, a modeling strategy for mixtures analyses, which integrates a random subset algorithm in the estimation of mixture effects. We demonstrate the application of this method (WQSRS) in three case examples, with mixtures varying in size from 34 to 472 variables. In evaluating each case, we provide detailed simulation studies to characterize the sensitivity and specificity of WQSRS in varying contexts. Our results emphasize that WQSRS is robustly effective in evaluating mixture effects in diverse high-dimensional contexts, yielding sensitivity and specificity in empirical contexts of approximately 73–75% and 73–89%, respectively.