PMID: 11914314Mar 27, 2002Paper

Fallibility in estimating direct effects

International Journal of Epidemiology
Stephen R Cole, Miguel A Hernán

Abstract

We use causal graphs and a partly hypothetical example from the Physicians' Health Study to explain why a common standard method for quantifying direct effects (i.e. stratifying on the intermediate variable) may be flawed. Estimating direct effects without bias requires that two assumptions hold, namely the absence of unmeasured confounding for (1) exposure and outcome, and (2) the intermediate variable and outcome. Recommendations include collecting and incorporating potential confounders for the causal effect of the mediator on the outcome, as well as the causal effect of the exposure on the outcome, and clearly stating the additional assumption that there is no unmeasured confounding for the causal effect of the mediator on the outcome.

References

Mar 1, 1992·Epidemiology·J M Robins, S Greenland
Jul 20, 1989·The New England Journal of Medicine·UNKNOWN Steering Committee of the Physicians' Health Study Research Group
Jun 1, 1989·Statistics in Medicine·J Robins
Jan 15, 1999·Epidemiology·S GreenlandJ M Robins
Aug 24, 2000·Epidemiology·J M RobinsB Brumback
Jan 16, 2002·American Journal of Epidemiology·Miguel A HernánAllen A Mitchell

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jun 26, 2008·Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology·Liana S LeachPeter Butterworth
Aug 7, 2012·Human Genetics·Stijn Vansteelandt, Christoph Lange
Jun 9, 2005·Pediatric Nephrology : Journal of the International Pediatric Nephrology Association·Gregory H Gorman, Susan L Furth
May 2, 2012·Cancer Causes & Control : CCC·Geetanjali D DattaJarvis T Chen
Jan 29, 2008·European Journal of Epidemiology·Sonia Hernández-DíazMiguel A Hernán
May 13, 2011·Prevention Science : the Official Journal of the Society for Prevention Research·Rui Wang, James H Ware
Mar 16, 2012·Prevention Science : the Official Journal of the Society for Prevention Research·Judea Pearl
Jul 21, 2005·Annals of Epidemiology·Lisa M BodnarJames M Roberts
May 12, 2004·Journal of Clinical Epidemiology·Stephen C Newman
Jan 2, 2013·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Marko T KantomaaTuija Tammelin
Jan 31, 2009·American Journal of Epidemiology·Eric B LoucksEmelia J Benjamin
Nov 3, 2010·American Journal of Epidemiology·Jay S Kaufman
Nov 3, 2010·American Journal of Epidemiology·Tyler J Vanderweele, Stijn Vansteelandt
Jan 19, 2011·American Journal of Epidemiology·Brendan T SmithEric B Loucks
Mar 25, 2011·American Journal of Epidemiology·Cande V Ananth, Tyler J VanderWeele
Sep 29, 2011·American Journal of Epidemiology·Allen J WilcoxOlga Basso
Jan 17, 2012·American Journal of Epidemiology·M Maria GlymourJames M Robins
Feb 2, 2013·American Journal of Epidemiology·Daniel Westreich, Sander Greenland
Jul 24, 2010·European Journal of Public Health·Willi Oberaigner, Uwe Siebert
Sep 7, 2011·European Journal of Public Health·Elisabeth KvaavikG David Batty
Mar 6, 2009·International Journal of Epidemiology·Danella M Hafeman, Sharon Schwartz
Apr 1, 2009·International Journal of Epidemiology·Martin TobiasJune Atkinson
Nov 21, 2009·International Journal of Epidemiology·Stephen R ColeCharles Poole
Jun 8, 2010·International Journal of Epidemiology·Tobias Torp-PedersenMads Melbye
Sep 11, 2013·International Journal of Epidemiology·Lorenzo RichiardiDaniela Zugna
Oct 30, 2008·Journal of the National Cancer Institute·Sholom WacholderNeil Caporaso
Feb 18, 2011·Journal of the National Cancer Institute·Timothy L LashStephen Hamilton-Dutoit
May 21, 2005·AIDS·Cunlin WangSandro Galea
Feb 7, 2008·Spine·Pierre CôtéUNKNOWN Bone and Joint Decade 2000-2010 Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders
Jun 16, 2009·Epidemiology·Enrique F SchistermanRobert W Platt
Sep 2, 2011·Epidemiology·Joanne S ColtWong-Ho Chow
Dec 14, 2011·Epidemiology·Tyler J VanderWeeleEnrique F Schisterman

❮ 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.