One Question, Many Results Why Epidemiological Studies Yield Heterogeneous Findings.
Background: Observational epidemiological studies often yield different results on the same research question. In this article, we explain how this comes about. Methods: In this review, which is based on publications retrieved by a selective search in PubMed and the Web of Science, we use informatio...
| Publicado en: | Deutsches Ärzteblatt International Vol. 121; no. 22; pp. 1 - 2 |
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| Autores principales: | , , , , |
| Formato: | Journal Article |
| Publicado: |
Deutscher Aerzte-Verlag GmbH
11/1/2024
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| Acceso en línea: | Ver este registro en EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=182552221&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: ccm uiTerm: 182552221 longDbName: CINAHL Complete uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: dissinfo: jinfo: jid: 18660452 5F0N jtl: Deutsches Ärzteblatt International issn: 18660452 maglogo: N pubinfo: dt: 11/1/2024 vid: 121 iid: 22 pid: 25312 pub: Deutscher Aerzte-Verlag GmbH artinfo: ui: 182552221 10.3238/arztebl.m2024.0135 182552221 ppf: 1 ppct: 1 formats: tig: atl: One Question, Many Results Why Epidemiological Studies Yield Heterogeneous Findings. aug: au: Kowall, B. Stolpe, S. Galetzka, W. Nonnemacher, M. Stang, A. affil: Institut für Medizinische Informatik, Biometrie und Epidemiologie (IMIBE) Universitätsklinik Essen Hufelandstr. 55, 45147 Essen, Germany sug: ab: Background: Observational epidemiological studies often yield different results on the same research question. In this article, we explain how this comes about. Methods: In this review, which is based on publications retrieved by a selective search in PubMed and the Web of Science, we use information from international publications, simulation studies on sampling error, and a quantitative bias analysis on fictitious data to demonstrate why the results of epidemiological studies are often uncertain, and why it is, therefore, generally necessary to perform more than one study on any particular question. Results: Sampling errors, imprecise measurements, alternative but equally appropriate methods of data analysis, and features of the populations being studied are common reasons why studies on the same question can yield different results. Simulation studies are used to illustrate the fact that effect estimates such as relative risks or odds ratios can deviate markedly from the true value because of sampling error, i.e., by chance alone. Quantitative bias analysis is used to show how strongly effect estimates can be distorted by misclassification of exposures or outcomes. Finally, it is shown through illustrative examples that different but equally appropriate methods of data analysis can lead to divergent study results. Conclusion: The above reasons why epidemiological study results can be heterogeneous are explained in this review. Quantitative bias analyses and sensitivity analyses with alternative data evaluation strategies can help explain divergent results on one and the same question. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: Journal Article ougenre: Article language: English refInfo: holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
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