Forecasting for COVID-19 has failed

© 2020 International Institute of Forecasters. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved..

Epidemic forecasting has a dubious track-record, and its failures became more prominent with COVID-19. Poor data input, wrong modeling assumptions, high sensitivity of estimates, lack of incorporation of epidemiological features, poor past evidence on effects of available interventions, lack of transparency, errors, lack of determinacy, consideration of only one or a few dimensions of the problem at hand, lack of expertise in crucial disciplines, groupthink and bandwagon effects, and selective reporting are some of the causes of these failures. Nevertheless, epidemic forecasting is unlikely to be abandoned. Some (but not all) of these problems can be fixed. Careful modeling of predictive distributions rather than focusing on point estimates, considering multiple dimensions of impact, and continuously reappraising models based on their validated performance may help. If extreme values are considered, extremes should be considered for the consequences of multiple dimensions of impact so as to continuously calibrate predictive insights and decision-making. When major decisions (e.g. draconian lockdowns) are based on forecasts, the harms (in terms of health, economy, and society at large) and the asymmetry of risks need to be approached in a holistic fashion, considering the totality of the evidence.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2022

Erschienen:

2022

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:38

Enthalten in:

International journal of forecasting - 38(2022), 2 vom: 01. Apr., Seite 423-438

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Ioannidis, John P A [VerfasserIn]
Cripps, Sally [VerfasserIn]
Tanner, Martin A [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Bayesian models
Bias
COVID-19
Forecasting
Hospital bed utilization
Journal Article
Mortality
SIR models
Validation

Anmerkungen:

Date Revised 12.11.2023

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status PubMed-not-MEDLINE

doi:

10.1016/j.ijforecast.2020.08.004

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM314366180