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Is your association real or just reverse causality? Some examples from analyses of multiple sclerosis clinical course and tools to assess it
Citation
Simpson Jr, S and Blizzard, L and Taylor, B and Tettey, P and van der Mei, I, Is your association real or just reverse causality? Some examples from analyses of multiple sclerosis clinical course and tools to assess it, Australasian Epidemiologist, 20.1 pp. 34-37. ISSN 1327-8835 (2013) [Non Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2013 Australasian Epidemiological Association
Official URL: http://www.aea.asn.au/
Abstract
It can be exciting to find a significant association between your
primary predictor and your study outcome. The coefficient is in
the right direction, the biological plausibility is all there, it’s
indicative of a true effect! Publish! Wait – is it a real association
or indicative of reverse causality? This is the step that some of us
can forget to check, and indeed can be all our ‘finding’ is showing.
While particularly a potential concern for cross-sectional or
case-control studies, even studies in which data from a longitudinal
cohort study are analysed should take into account the possibility
of reverse causality, and rebut this possibility as an explanation
for their findings. Using the model of multiple sclerosis and
environmental and biologic predictors of clinical disability, we
present some cases where a promising association may simply
reflect reverse causality. We also present some analytical methods
whereby reverse causality can be assessed, and the utility of
which can make you – and the reviewers – more confident your
results mean what you think they do.
Item Details
Item Type: | Non Refereed Article |
---|---|
Keywords: | epidemiology, reverse causality |
Research Division: | Health Sciences |
Research Group: | Epidemiology |
Research Field: | Epidemiology not elsewhere classified |
Objective Division: | Health |
Objective Group: | Public health (excl. specific population health) |
Objective Field: | Disease distribution and transmission (incl. surveillance and response) |
UTAS Author: | Simpson Jr, S (Dr Steve Simpson JR) |
UTAS Author: | Blizzard, L (Professor Leigh Blizzard) |
UTAS Author: | Taylor, B (Professor Bruce Taylor) |
UTAS Author: | Tettey, P (Mr Prudence Tettey) |
UTAS Author: | van der Mei, I (Professor Ingrid van der Mei) |
ID Code: | 93679 |
Year Published: | 2013 |
Deposited By: | Menzies Institute for Medical Research |
Deposited On: | 2014-08-13 |
Last Modified: | 2014-08-28 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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