A causal inference perspective on the analysis of compositional data.

International Journal of Epidemiology
Kellyn F ArnoldMark S Gilthorpe

Abstract

Compositional data comprise the parts of some whole, for which all parts sum to that whole. They are prevalent in many epidemiological contexts. Although many of the challenges associated with analysing compositional data have been discussed previously, we do so within a formal causal framework by utilizing directed acyclic graphs (DAGs). We depict compositional data using DAGs and identify two distinct effect estimands in the generic case: (i) the total effect, and (ii) the relative effect. We consider each in the context of three specific example scenarios involving compositional data: (1) the relationship between the economically active population and area-level gross domestic product; (2) the relationship between fat consumption and body weight; and (3) the relationship between time spent sedentary and body weight. For each, we consider the distinct interpretation of each effect, and the resulting implications for related analyses. For scenarios (1) and (2), both the total and relative effects may be identifiable and causally meaningful, depending upon the specific question of interest. For scenario (3), only the relative effect is identifiable. In all scenarios, the relative effect represents a joint effect, and thus requi...Continue Reading

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Citations

Aug 23, 2020·International Journal of Obesity : Journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity·William JohnsonSilvia Costa
Jun 13, 2020·International Journal of Epidemiology·Alexander Breskin, Eleanor J Murray
May 19, 2020·The Journals of Gerontology. Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences·Audrey RensonAllison E Aiello
Nov 6, 2020·European Journal of Nutrition·Jie LiangTong Wang
Apr 21, 2021·Nutrition Journal·Junkang ZhaoTong Wang
Jul 28, 2021·The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition·Georgia D TomovaPeter W G Tennant
Sep 18, 2021·The International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity·Verónica Cabanas-SánchezDavid Martínez-Gómez

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