rcssci: An R Package for Visualization of Restricted Cubic Spline
Hongbin Xu, Chen Chen, Zu Xun Lu, Zhiqiang Nie · Med Research · 2025
ABSTRACT rcssci represents an innovative restricted cubic spline (RCS) curve optimization methodology within the R package ecosystem, designed to refine and elevate the visual elegance of conventional RCS curves. This advanced visualization method enhances the aesthetics of existing RCS curves, generating both statistically appropriate and artistically compelling density distributions. It adeptly uncovers meaningful correlations across RCS curves for diverse effect sizes while accentuating critical graphical elements such as reference thresholds for odds ratios (OR), risk ratios (RR), hazard ratios (HR), and morphologically optimized cut‐point values. Featuring straightforward installation and a user‐friendly interface, rcssci serves as an indispensable analytical toolkit to enhance the researcher’s comprehension of continuous exposure–outcome relationships through visualization prior to engaging with more complex machine learning‐driven correlation analyses. The rcssci package is available free of charge with an explicit reference to this publication. For comprehensive guidance on installation protocols, bug fixes, and accessing real‐time enhancements to the package, researchers are directed to consult the official announcements regarding the rcssci toolkit within the WeChat official account titled “实战医学统计” (in Chinese).