1
|
Adineh HA, Hoseini K, Zareban I, Jalali A, Nazemipour M, Mansournia MA. Comparison of outcomes between off-pump and on-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery using collaborative targeted maximum likelihood estimation. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11373. [PMID: 38762564 PMCID: PMC11102550 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61846-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024] Open
Abstract
There are some discrepancies about the superiority of the off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery over the conventional cardiopulmonary bypass (on-pump). The aim of this study was estimating risk ratio of mortality in the off-pump coronary bypass compared with the on-pump using a causal model known as collaborative targeted maximum likelihood estimation (C-TMLE). The data of the Tehran Heart Cohort study from 2007 to 2020 was used. A collaborative targeted maximum likelihood estimation and targeted maximum likelihood estimation, and propensity score (PS) adjustment methods were used to estimate causal risk ratio adjusting for the minimum sufficient set of confounders, and the results were compared. Among 24,883 participants (73.6% male), 5566 patients died during an average of 8.2 years of follow-up. The risk ratio estimates (95% confidence intervals) by unadjusted log-binomial regression model, PS adjustment, TMLE, and C-TMLE methods were 0.86 (0.78-0.95), 0.88 (0.80-0.97), 0.88 (0.80-0.97), and 0.87(0.85-0.89), respectively. This study provides evidence for a protective effect of off-pump surgery on mortality risk for up to 8 years in diabetic and non-diabetic patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hossein Ali Adineh
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Kaveh Hoseini
- Tehran Heart Center, Cardiovascular Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Cardiac Primary Prevention Research Center, Cardiovascular Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Iraj Zareban
- Health Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
| | - Arash Jalali
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Tehran Heart Center, Cardiovascular Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Nazemipour
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ali Mansournia
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Swilley-Martinez ME, Coles SA, Miller VE, Alam IZ, Fitch KV, Cruz TH, Hohl B, Murray R, Ranapurwala SI. "We adjusted for race": now what? A systematic review of utilization and reporting of race in American Journal of Epidemiology and Epidemiology, 2020-2021. Epidemiol Rev 2023; 45:15-31. [PMID: 37789703 DOI: 10.1093/epirev/mxad010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Race is a social construct, commonly used in epidemiologic research to adjust for confounding. However, adjustment of race may mask racial disparities, thereby perpetuating structural racism. We conducted a systematic review of articles published in Epidemiology and American Journal of Epidemiology between 2020 and 2021 to (1) understand how race, ethnicity, and similar social constructs were operationalized, used, and reported; and (2) characterize good and poor practices of utilization and reporting of race data on the basis of the extent to which they reveal or mask systemic racism. Original research articles were considered for full review and data extraction if race data were used in the study analysis. We extracted how race was categorized, used-as a descriptor, confounder, or for effect measure modification (EMM)-and reported if the authors discussed racial disparities and systemic bias-related mechanisms responsible for perpetuating the disparities. Of the 561 articles, 299 had race data available and 192 (34.2%) used race data in analyses. Among the 160 US-based studies, 81 different racial categorizations were used. Race was most often used as a confounder (52%), followed by effect measure modifier (33%), and descriptive variable (12%). Fewer than 1 in 4 articles (22.9%) exhibited good practices (EMM along with discussing disparities and mechanisms), 63.5% of the articles exhibited poor practices (confounding only or not discussing mechanisms), and 13.5% were considered neither poor nor good practices. We discuss implications and provide 13 recommendations for operationalization, utilization, and reporting of race in epidemiologic and public health research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Monica E Swilley-Martinez
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7435, United States
- Injury Prevention Research Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - Serita A Coles
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7440, United States
| | - Vanessa E Miller
- Injury Prevention Research Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - Ishrat Z Alam
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7435, United States
- Injury Prevention Research Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - Kate Vinita Fitch
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7435, United States
- Injury Prevention Research Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - Theresa H Cruz
- Prevention Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Health Sciences Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
| | - Bernadette Hohl
- Penn Injury Science Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6021, United States
| | - Regan Murray
- Center for Public Health and Technology, Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, United States
| | - Shabbar I Ranapurwala
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7435, United States
- Injury Prevention Research Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Khodamoradi F, Nazemipour M, Mansournia N, Yazdani K, Khalili D, Arshadi M, Etminan M, Mansournia MA. The effect of smoking on latent hazard classes of metabolic syndrome using latent class causal analysis method in the Iranian population. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:2058. [PMID: 37864179 PMCID: PMC10588163 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16863-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prevalence of metabolic syndrome is increasing worldwide. Clinical guidelines consider metabolic syndrome as an all or none medical condition. One proposed method for classifying metabolic syndrome is latent class analysis (LCA). One approach to causal inference in LCA is using propensity score (PS) methods. The aim of this study was to investigate the causal effect of smoking on latent hazard classes of metabolic syndrome using the method of latent class causal analysis. METHODS In this study, we used data from the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Cohort Study (TLGS). 4857 participants aged over 20 years with complete information on exposure (smoking) and confounders in the third phase (2005-2008) were included. Metabolic syndrome was evaluated as outcome and latent variable in LCA in the data of the fifth phase (2014-2015). The step-by-step procedure for conducting causal inference in LCA included: (1) PS estimation and evaluation of overlap, (2) calculation of inverse probability-of-treatment weighting (IPTW), (3) PS matching, (4) evaluating balance of confounding variables between exposure groups, and (5) conducting LCA using the weighted or matched data set. RESULTS Based on the results of IPTW which compared the low, medium and high risk classes of metabolic syndrome (compared to a class without metabolic syndrome), no association was found between smoking and the metabolic syndrome latent classes. PS matching which compared low and moderate risk classes compared to class without metabolic syndrome, showed that smoking increases the probability of being in the low-risk class of metabolic syndrome (OR: 2.19; 95% CI: 1.32, 3.63). In the unadjusted analysis, smoking increased the chances of being in the low-risk (OR: 1.45; 95% CI: 1.01, 2.08) and moderate-risk (OR: 1.68; 95% CI: 1.18, 2.40) classes of metabolic syndrome compared to the class without metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSIONS Based on the results, the causal effect of smoking on latent hazard classes of metabolic syndrome can be different based on the type of PS method. In adjusted analysis, no relationship was observed between smoking and moderate-risk and high-risk classes of metabolic syndrome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Farzad Khodamoradi
- Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Maryam Nazemipour
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, PO Box: 14155-6446, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nasrin Mansournia
- Department of Endocrinology, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Kamran Yazdani
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, PO Box: 14155-6446, Tehran, Iran
| | - Davood Khalili
- Prevention of Metabolic Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maedeh Arshadi
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Mahyar Etminan
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Medicine and Pharmacology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Mohammad Ali Mansournia
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, PO Box: 14155-6446, Tehran, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Shakiba M, Nazemipour M, Mansournia N, Mansournia MA. Protective effect of intensive glucose lowering therapy on all-cause mortality, adjusted for treatment switching using G-estimation method, the ACCORD trial. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5833. [PMID: 37037931 PMCID: PMC10086045 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32855-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous analysis of the action to control cardiovascular risk in diabetes showed an increased risk of mortality among patients receiving intensive glucose lowering therapy using conventional regression method with intention to treat approach. This method is biased when time-varying confounder is affected by the previous treatment. We used 15 follow-up visits of ACCORD trial to compare the effect of time-varying intensive vs. standard treatment of glucose lowering drugs on cardiovascular and mortality outcomes in diabetic patients. The treatment effect was estimated using G-estimation and compared with accelerated failure time model using two modeling strategies. The first model adjusted for baseline confounders and the second adjusted for both baseline and time-varying confounders. While the hazard ratio of all-cause mortality for intensive compared to standard therapy in AFT model adjusted for baseline confounders was 1.17 (95% CI 1.01-1.36), the result of time-dependent AFT model was compatible with both protective and risk effects. However, the hazard ratio estimated by G-estimation was 0.64 (95% CI 0.39-0.92). The results of this study revealed a protective effect of intensive therapy on all-cause mortality compared with standard therapy in ACCORD trial.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Shakiba
- Cardiovascular Diseases Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Health, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Maryam Nazemipour
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, PO Box: 14155-6446, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nasrin Mansournia
- Department of Endocrinology, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ali Mansournia
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, PO Box: 14155-6446, Tehran, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Longitudinal causal effect of modified creatinine index on all-cause mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease: Accounting for time-varying confounders using G-estimation. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0272212. [PMID: 35984783 PMCID: PMC9390931 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Standard regression modeling may cause biased effect estimates in the presence of time-varying confounders affected by prior exposure. This study aimed to quantify the relationship between declining in modified creatinine index (MCI), as a surrogate marker of lean body mass, and mortality among end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients using G-estimation accounting appropriately for time-varying confounders. Methods A retrospective cohort of all registered ESRD patients (n = 553) was constructed over 8 years from 2011 to 2019, from 3 hemodialysis centers at Kerman, southeast of Iran. According to changes in MCI, patients were dichotomized to either the decline group or no-decline group. Subsequently the effect of interest was estimated using G-estimation and compared with accelerated failure time (AFT) Weibull models using two modelling strategies. Results Standard models demonstrated survival time ratios of 0.91 (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.64 to 1.28) and 0.84 (95% CI: 0.58 to 1.23) in patients in the decline MCI group compared to those in no-decline MCI group. This effect was demonstrated to be 0.57 (-95% CI: 0.21 to 0.81) using G-estimation. Conclusion Declining in MCI increases mortality in patients with ESRD using G-estimation, while the AFT standard models yield biased effect estimate toward the null.
Collapse
|
6
|
Wang R, Wang J, Hu T, Zhou XH. Population-Level Effectiveness of COVID-19 Vaccination Program in the United States: Causal Analysis Based on Structural Nested Mean Model. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10050726. [PMID: 35632481 PMCID: PMC9144931 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10050726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Though COVID-19 vaccines have shown high efficacy, real-world effectiveness at the population level remains unclear. Based on the longitudinal data on vaccination coverage and daily infection cases from fifty states in the United States from March to May 2021, causal analyses were conducted using structural nested mean models to estimate the population-level effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccination program against infection with the original strain. We found that in the US, every 1% increase of vaccination coverage rate reduced the weekly growth rate of COVID-19 confirmed cases by 1.02% (95% CI: 0.26%, 1.69%), and the estimated population-level effectiveness of the COVID-19 program was 63.9% (95% CI: 18.0%, 87.5%). In comparison to a no-vaccination scenario, the COVID-19 vaccination campaign averted 8.05 million infections through the study period. Scenario analyses show that a vaccination program with doubled vaccination speed or with more rapid vaccination speed at the early stages of the campaign would avert more infections and increase vaccine effectiveness. The COVID-19 vaccination program demonstrated a high population-level effectiveness and significantly reduced the disease burden in the US. Accelerating vaccine rollout, especially at an early stage of the campaign, is crucial for reducing COVID-19 infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rui Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; (R.W.); (T.H.)
| | - Jiahao Wang
- School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China;
- China Center for Health Development Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Taojun Hu
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; (R.W.); (T.H.)
| | - Xiao-Hua Zhou
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; (R.W.); (T.H.)
- Beijing International Center for Mathematical Research, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Yamada S, Tsuruya K, Kitazono T, Nakano T. Emerging cross-talks between chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD) and malnutrition-inflammation complex syndrome (MICS) in patients receiving dialysis. Clin Exp Nephrol 2022; 26:613-629. [PMID: 35353283 PMCID: PMC9203392 DOI: 10.1007/s10157-022-02216-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Chronic kidney disease–mineral and bone disorder (CKD–MBD) is a systemic disorder that affects multiple organs and systems and increases the risk of morbidity and mortality in patients with CKD, especially those receiving dialysis therapy. CKD–MBD is highly prevalent in CKD patients, and its treatment is gaining attention from healthcare providers who manage these patients. Additional important pathologies often observed in CKD patients are chronic inflammation and malnutrition/protein-energy wasting (PEW). These two pathologies coexist to form a vicious cycle that accelerates the progression of various other pathologies in CKD patients. This concept is integrated into the term “malnutrition–inflammation–atherosclerosis syndrome” or “malnutrition–inflammation complex syndrome (MICS)”. Recent basic and clinical studies have shown that CKD–MBD directly induces inflammation as well as malnutrition/PEW. Indeed, higher circulating levels of inorganic phosphate, fibroblast growth factor 23, parathyroid hormone, and calciprotein particles, as markers for critical components and effectors of CKD–MBD, were shown to directly induce inflammatory responses, thereby leading to malnutrition/PEW, cardiovascular diseases, and clinically relevant complications. In this short review, we discuss the close interplay between CKD–MBD and MICS and emphasize the significance of simultaneous control of these two seemingly distinct pathologies in patients with CKD, especially those receiving dialysis therapy, for better management of the CKD/hemodialysis population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shunsuke Yamada
- Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-Ku, Fukuoka, 8128582, Japan.
| | | | - Takanari Kitazono
- Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-Ku, Fukuoka, 8128582, Japan
| | - Toshiaki Nakano
- Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-Ku, Fukuoka, 8128582, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Khodamoradi F, Nazemipour M, Mansournia N, Yazdani K, Khalili D, Mansournia MA. The Effects of Smoking on Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components Using Causal Methods in the Iranian Population. Int J Prev Med 2021; 12:118. [PMID: 34760129 PMCID: PMC8551769 DOI: 10.4103/ijpvm.ijpvm_45_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The aim of this study was to estimate the effect of smoking on metabolic syndrome (MS) and its components applying inverse probability-of-treatment weighting (IPTW) and propensity score (PS) matching. Methods Using data from Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study, 4857 participants aged over 20 years with information on smoking and confounders in the third phase (2005-2008) were included, and the MS was assessed in the fifth phase (2011-2014). IPTW and PS matching were used to adjust for confounders. Results Based on average treatment effect (ATE) estimates, smoking decreased the risk of hypertension (RR: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.43, 0.88), but increased the risk of low HDL cholesterol (1.20; 0.98, 1.48). Similarly, the average treatment effect in the treated (ATT) estimates using IPTW and PS matching suggested that smoking decreased the risk of hypertension (0.63; 0.52, 0.76, and 0.68; 0.54, 0.85), and increased the risk of low HDL cholesterol (1.24; 1.07, 1.43, and 1.28; 1.06, 1.54), respectively. Conclusions Smoking seems to increase the risk of low HDL cholesterol but decreases the risk of hypertension.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Farzad Khodamoradi
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Nazemipour
- Osteoporosis Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nasrin Mansournia
- Department of Endocrinology, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Kamran Yazdani
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Davood Khalili
- Prevention of Metabolic Disorders Research Center, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ali Mansournia
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Abdollahpour I, Nedjat S, Almasi-Hashiani A, Nazemipour M, Mansournia MA, Luque-Fernandez MA. Estimating the Marginal Causal Effect and Potential Impact of Waterpipe Smoking on Risk of Multiple Sclerosis Using the Targeted Maximum Likelihood Estimation Method: A Large, Population-Based Incident Case-Control Study. Am J Epidemiol 2021; 190:1332-1340. [PMID: 33576427 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwab036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
There are few if any reports regarding the role of lifetime waterpipe smoking in the etiology of multiple sclerosis (MS). In a population-based incident case-control study conducted in Tehran, Iran, we investigated the association between waterpipe smoking and MS, adjusted for confounders. Cases (n = 547) were patients aged 15-50 years identified from the Iranian Multiple Sclerosis Society between 2013 and 2015. Population-based controls (n = 1,057) were persons aged 15-50 years recruited through random digit telephone dialing. A doubly robust estimation method, the targeted maximum likelihood estimator (TMLE), was used to estimate the marginal risk ratio and odds ratio for the association between waterpipe smoking and MS. The estimated risk ratio and odds ratio were both 1.70 (95% confidence interval: 1.34, 2.17). The population attributable fraction was 21.4% (95% confidence interval: 4.0, 38.8). Subject to the limitations of case-control studies in interpreting associations causally, these results suggest that waterpipe use, or strongly related but undetermined factors, increases the risk of MS. Further epidemiologic studies, including nested case-control studies, are needed to confirm these findings.
Collapse
|
10
|
Etminan M, Brophy JM, Collins G, Nazemipour M, Mansournia MA. To Adjust or Not to Adjust: The Role of Different Covariates in Cardiovascular Observational Studies. Am Heart J 2021; 237:62-67. [PMID: 33722586 DOI: 10.1016/j.ahj.2021.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Covariate adjustment is integral to the validity of observational studies assessing causal effects. It is common practice to adjust for as many variables as possible in observational studies in the hopes of reducing confounding by other variables. However, indiscriminate adjustment for variables using standard regression models may actually lead to biased estimates. In this paper, we differentiate between confounders, mediators, colliders, and effect modifiers. We will discuss that while confounders should be adjusted for in the analysis, one should be wary of adjusting for colliders. Mediators should not be adjusted for when examining the total effect of an exposure on an outcome. Automated statistical programs should not be used to decide which variables to include in causal models. Using a case scenario in cardiology, we will demonstrate how to identify confounders, colliders, mediators and effect modifiers and the implications of adjustment or non-adjustment for each of them.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mahyar Etminan
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Medicine and Pharmacology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia
| | - James M Brophy
- Department of Epidemiology and Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Gary Collins
- Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Maryam Nazemipour
- Osteoporosis Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Psychosocial Health Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ali Mansournia
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Almasi-Hashiani A, Nedjat S, Ghiasvand R, Safiri S, Nazemipour M, Mansournia N, Mansournia MA. The causal effect and impact of reproductive factors on breast cancer using super learner and targeted maximum likelihood estimation: a case-control study in Fars Province, Iran. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:1219. [PMID: 34167500 PMCID: PMC8228908 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-11307-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The relationship between reproductive factors and breast cancer (BC) risk has been investigated in previous studies. Considering the discrepancies in the results, the aim of this study was to estimate the causal effect of reproductive factors on BC risk in a case-control study using the double robust approach of targeted maximum likelihood estimation. METHODS This is a causal reanalysis of a case-control study done between 2005 and 2008 in Shiraz, Iran, in which 787 confirmed BC cases and 928 controls were enrolled. Targeted maximum likelihood estimation along with super Learner were used to analyze the data, and risk ratio (RR), risk difference (RD), andpopulation attributable fraction (PAF) were reported. RESULTS Our findings did not support parity and age at the first pregnancy as risk factors for BC. The risk of BC was higher among postmenopausal women (RR = 3.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) = (2.3, 4.6)), women with the age at first marriage ≥20 years (RR = 1.6, 95% CI = (1.3, 2.1)), and the history of oral contraceptive (OC) use (RR = 1.6, 95% CI = (1.3, 2.1)) or breastfeeding duration ≤60 months (RR = 1.8, 95% CI = (1.3, 2.5)). The PAF for menopause status, breastfeeding duration, and OC use were 40.3% (95% CI = 39.5, 40.6), 27.3% (95% CI = 23.1, 30.8) and 24.4% (95% CI = 10.5, 35.5), respectively. CONCLUSIONS Postmenopausal women, and women with a higher age at first marriage, shorter duration of breastfeeding, and history of OC use are at the higher risk of BC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amir Almasi-Hashiani
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Health, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran
- Traditional and Complementary Medicine Research Center, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran
| | - Saharnaz Nedjat
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Knowledge Utilization Research Center, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Ghiasvand
- Department of Research, Cancer Registry of Norway, Oslo, Norway
- Oslo Centre for Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Saeid Safiri
- Aging Research Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Maryam Nazemipour
- Osteoporosis Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Psychosocial Health Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nasrin Mansournia
- Department of Endocrinology, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ali Mansournia
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P.O Box: 14155-6446, Tehran, Iran
| |
Collapse
|