The application of methods to quantify attributable risk in medical practice
Open accessAbstract
Several epidemiological parameters have been introduced for quantifying the population impact of a certain exposure on morbidity on a population level, termed ‘attributable risk’ (AR). Of these definitions, the AR as suggested by Levin in 1953 or some algebraic transformations of it are most commonly used. A structured literature search, based on the Medline database, identified 334 original epidemiological studies dealing with this AR published between 1966 and 1996 (mostly case-control studies). A considerable increase in the number of published studies incorporating some quantification of the exposure impact on the population level in terms of the AR was observed in the last decade. However, in 64.5% of these studies no exact definition of the AR used was given. Adjustment procedures necessary in multifactorial situations were performed by only 37.5%, confidence intervals for the AR were given by only 19.3% of authors. Thus, although the increasing popularity of this important epidemiological measure is encouraging, its correct application and comprehensive reporting in medical practice should be promoted further.
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Several concepts and no unified terminology exist for the population attributable fraction.
“The population attributable fraction is generally defined as the proportion of cases caused by a particular exposure, but several concepts (and no unified terminology) exist, and incorrect approaches to adjust for other factors are sometimes used [ 172 , 180 ].”
From Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE): Explanation and Elaboration (2007) · cites this paper as [172]
Incorrect approaches to adjust for other factors are sometimes used when calculating population attributable fractions.
“The population attributable fraction is generally defined as the proportion of cases caused by a particular exposure, but several concepts (and no unified terminology) exist, and incorrect approaches to adjust for other factors are sometimes used [ 172 , 180 ].”
From Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE): Explanation and Elaboration (2007) · cites this paper as [172]
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PROPORTION OF DISEASE CAUSED OR PREVENTED BY A GIVEN EXPOSURE, TRAIT OR INTERVENTION1
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- Authors
- Uter, W., & Pfahlberg, A.
- Affiliations
- University of Göttingen (DE)
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Uter, W
- ORCID
- Venue
- Statistical Methods in Medical Research
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2001-06
- Volume
- 10
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 231-237
- ISSN
- 0962-2802 (ISSN-L)
- 1477-0334
- OpenAlex
- W2014114476
- Cited by
- 55
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2024: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 1.80
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- Locations
- Statistical Methods in Medical Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- GRO (submittedVersion)
- GoeScholar The Publication Server of the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen (Georg-August-Universität Göttingen) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Statistics and Probability › Statistical Methods in Epidemiology
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty › Meta-analysis and systematic reviews
- Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Statistics and Probability › Advanced Causal Inference Techniques
- Keywords
- attributable risk, population attributable fraction, case-control study, confidence intervals, reporting quality, epidemiological measures
- MeSH terms
- Algorithms, Epidemiologic Methods, Humans, Public Health Practice, Epidemiologic Studies, Risk Assessment
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