Baseline selection on a collider: a ubiquitous mechanism occurring in both representative and selected cohort studies

Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
Lorenzo RichiardiCostanza Pizzi

Abstract

There is debate as to whether cohort studies are valid when they are based on a source population that is non-representative of a given general population. This baseline selection may introduce collider bias if the exposure of interest and some other outcome risk factors affect the probability of being in the source population, thus altering the associations between the exposure and those risk factors. We argue that this mechanism is not specific to 'selected cohorts' and also occurs in 'representative cohorts' due to the selection processes that occur in any population. These selection processes are for example linked to the life status, immigration and emigration, which, in turn, may be affected by environmental and social determinants, lifestyles and genetics. We provide real-world examples of this phenomenon using data on the population of the Piedmont region, Italy. In addition to well-recognised mechanisms, such as shared common causes, the associations between the exposure of interest and the risk factors for the outcome of interest in any source population are potentially shaped by collider bias due to the underlying selection processes. We conclude that, when conducting a cohort study, different source populations, whe...Continue Reading

References

Dec 1, 1992·Annals of Oncology : Official Journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology·E Riboli
Mar 10, 2001·Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology·J GoldingUNKNOWN ALSPAC Study Team
Jun 26, 1954·British Medical Journal·R DOLL, A B HILL
Mar 1, 1951·American Journal of Public Health and the Nation's Health·T R DAWBERF E MOORE
Aug 17, 2004·Epidemiology·Miguel A HernánJames M Robins
Jun 7, 2006·Epidemiology·Ellen Aagaard NohrJorn Olsen
Oct 24, 2007·European Journal of Epidemiology·Lorenzo RichiardiUNKNOWN NINFEA cohort
Nov 21, 2009·International Journal of Epidemiology·Stephen R ColeCharles Poole
Mar 30, 2010·European Journal of Epidemiology·Tine Neermann JacobsenMorten Frydenberg
Apr 28, 2010·Journal of the National Cancer Institute·Timothy L LashCharles Poole
Oct 1, 2010·Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health·Costanza PizziLorenzo Richiardi
Dec 8, 2011·Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health·Costanza PizziLorenzo Richiardi
Sep 26, 2013·International Journal of Epidemiology·Kenneth J RothmanElizabeth E Hatch
Sep 26, 2013·International Journal of Epidemiology·Lorenzo RichiardiNeil Pearce
Sep 26, 2013·International Journal of Epidemiology·Shah Ebrahim, George Davey Smith
Nov 26, 2015·Annals of Epidemiology·Costanza PizziLorenzo Richiardi
Mar 10, 2016·American Journal of Public Health·Katherine M Keyes, Sandro Galea
Mar 28, 2017·Epidemiology·Catherine R LeskoStephen R Cole
Oct 19, 2017·International Journal of Epidemiology·Marcus R MunafòGeorge Davey Smith

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved