Home

ISLAMIC MEDICAL EDUCATION RESOURCES-05

0712-Epidemiological Research Based on Large Data Analysis: Study Characteristics

Paper presented by Professor Omar Hasan Kasule, Sr.

Abstract

Analysis of studies published in one volume of each of 3 major epidemiological studies revealed that the sources of data were as follows: routinely collected health data  %, data from defined population cohorts   %, and data from other studies   %. Only  % of the reports were based on data from a sample of the population. The analysis also revealed that the study subjects were many averaging. The paper concludes by highlighting that more thought should be given to the implications of the observed change in the paradigms and practices of epidemiological research.

 

Introduction

This study was motivated by the observation that recent epidemiological research is based on existing large data-bases or defined cohorts and that 100% sampling was the usual practice. This is a reversal of the traditional epidemiological practice of selecting a probability sample from a study population in order to reach conclusion about the target population.

 

Developments in information technology and mass access to the internet are opening up new fields of endeavor for the epidemiologist. For example data can be collected from  a large number of people using internet-based questionnaires[i]

 

The objective of the research was to survey epidemiological research published in 2006 in three high-impact journals to ascertain whether the trend of large-scale data-base studies had become the norm in epidemiological research. The three journals selected for study were the American Journal of Epidemiology 2006 Volume 169 No. 1-12, The International Journal of Epidemiology 2006 Volume 35 No. 1-4, and The European Journal of Epidemiology 2006 Volume 21 No. 1-9.

 

Methods

The study included only original papers that involved raw data. Reviews, meta-analyses, and analyses based on published data were excluded. A pre-tested data abstract form was used to abstract the following essential information from each original research article: title, authors, issue and volume number, date of publication, type of study (cross sectional, case control, cohort, randomized community control, randomized clinical), Study population (general population, defined population, ongoing study), type of data collection (routinely collected data, newly collected data, previously collected data or a combination among the above) and total number of study subjects (number recruited before any exclusions). Defined populations were hospitals, health insurance of health maintenance organizations, clinics, schools, factories etc were considered defined populations. Cohorts were considered as ongoing studies. For case control studies cases and controls were added up. For ongoing studies it was assumed that data collection was new unless a special mention was made of using previously collected data. The data was keyed into an SPSS data base for categorical analysis using the chi-square test statistic to test for association.

 

Results

A total of xxx studies were included in the research. Studies in defined groups were distributed as follows: 20 cross sectional, 9 case control, and 25 cohort studies. Studies in the general population were distributed as follows: xx cross sectional, xx case control, and xx cohort studies. Distribution of the studies by method of data collection was: xx newly collected data, xx routinely collected data, and xx previously collected data.

 

Results will be presented showing the increasing trend of doing epidemiological research based on large data sets of routinely collected data or data left over from previous research. The research trends will be described and characterized regarding size of study, methods of sampling, and implications on both internal and external validity

 

Discussion

The findings of the study indicate a major change in epidemiological research with serious practical and theoretical implications. The availability of large data bases and high speed computers has encouraged epidemiologists to analyze data without probability sampling. A large data set gives very stable parameters but the same degree of precision could have been obtained from a smaller sample. What is the lost is the ability of the epidemiologist to inspect a small manageable data set, internalize it, and let his intuition act before the data is analyzed. The more intimate contact of the epidemiologist with the data traditionally accounted for deep understanding and discussion which are missed in the new trend. Easy availability of large databases also encourages epidemiologists to plunge into data analysis before serious thought about the research questions. In some cases the research questions can be prompted by preliminary analysis which can lead to numerous biases. Use of large data sets has the advantage of external validity which had never been the primary objective of epidemiological research. Epidemiologists have traditionally aimed at carrying out a small study based on probability sampling so that they can easily identify and control confounding and other sources of bias with the ultimate aim of internal validity. They knew that external validity (generalization) would be attained inductively by consideration of several studies that are internally valid. Use of large sets of routinely collected data also raises the issue of the quality of the data which is collected with service and administrative and not research considerations in mind.

           

TABLE 1: CLASSIFICATION OF ARTICLES BY JOURNAL

 

 

AJE

IJE

EJE

TOTAL

p-value

Study design

Cross sectional

 

 

 

 

 

 

Case control

 

 

 

 

 

 

Follow up

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Study population

Defined group

 

 

 

 

 

 

General population

 

 

 

 

 

 

On-going study

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Data collection

New

 

 

 

 

 

 

Routine

 

 

 

 

 

 

Previous

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

TABLE 2: MEAN NUMBER OF RESEARCH SUBJECTS BY STUDY CHARACTERISTICS AND JOURNAL

 

 

AJE

IJE

EJE

TOTAL

p-value

Study design

Cross sectional

 

 

 

 

 

 

Case control

 

 

 

 

 

 

Follow up

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Study population

Defined group

 

 

 

 

 

 

General population

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Data collection

New

 

 

 

 

 

 

Routine

 

 

 

 

 

 

Previous

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE 3: MEAN NUMBER OF RESEARCH SUBJECTS BY STUDY DESIGNN AND STUDY POPULATION

Study design

Study population

p-value

Defined groups

General population

 

Cross sectional

 

 

 

Case control

 

 

 

Cohort

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE 4: MEAN NUMBER OF STUDY SUBJECTS BY STUDY DESIGN AND TYPE OF DATA COLLECTION

Study design

Tyoe of data collection

p-value

New

Routine

Previous

 

Cross sectional

 

 

 

 

Case control

 

 

 

 

Follow up

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE 5: MEAN NUMBER OF STUDY SUBJECTS BY STUDY POPULATION AND METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION

Study Population

 

 

 

p-value

New

Routine

Previous

Defined group

 

 

 

 

General population

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REFERENCES

1. Ogard CG, Petersen J, Jorgensen T et al. Serum ionized calcium and cardiovascular disease in 45-years old men and women followed for 18 years. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(2): 123-128.

2. Mallen CD, Peat G, Thomas E. et al. Is chronic musculoskeletal pain in adulthood related to factors at birth? A population-based case-control study of young adults. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(3): 237-244.

15. Tapia-Conyer  R, Kuri-Morales P, Alegre-Diaz J et al. Cohort Profile: the Mexico city prospective study. Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(2):243-249.

16. Jiang C, Thomas GN, Lam TH et al. Cohort Profile: The Guangzhou biobank cohort study, a Guangzhou-Hong Kong – Birmingham collaboration. Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(4):844-852.

17. Hinkula M, Kauppila A, Nayha M et al. Cause-specific mortality of grand multiparous women in Finland. Am J Epidemiol 2006:163(4): 367-373.

18. Reed PL, Storr CL, Anthony JC. Drug Dependence Enviromics: job strain in the work environment and risk of becoming drug-dependent. Am J Epidemiol 2006:163(5): 404-411.

19. Mungala-Odera V, Meehan R, Njuguna P. et al. Prevalence and risk factors of neurological disability and impairment in children living in rural Kenya. Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(3): 683-688.

20. Bursi F, Rocca WA, Killian JM et al. Heart disease and dementia: a population-based study. Am J Epidemiol 2006; 163(2):135-141.

21. Nguyen VB, Nguyen GK, Phung DC et al. Intra-familial transmission of Helicobacter pylori infection in children of households with multiple generations in Vietnam. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(6): 459-464.

22. Samore MH, Lipsitch M, Alder SC et al.  Mechanisms by which antibiotics promote dissemination of resistant pneumococci in human populations. Am J Epidemiol 2006; 163(2):160-170.

23. Oishi Y, Kiyohara Y, Kubo M et al. The serum pepsinogen test as a predictor of gastric cancer: the Hisayama study. Am J Epidemiol 2006:163(7): 629-637.

24. Hirokawa K, Tsutusmi A, Kayaba K. Impacts of educational level and employment status on mortality for Japanese women and men: the Jichi Medical School cohort study. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(9): 641-651.

25. FEur J Epidemiolr R, Hartvigsen J, Kyvik KO et al. The Funen neck and chest pain study: analyzing non-response bias by using national vital statistic data.  Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(3): 171-180.

26. Hyde TB, Dayan GH, Langdrik JR et al. Measles outbreak in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, 2003. Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(2):299-306.

27. Magnusson PKE, Rasmussen F, Lawlor DA et al. Association of body mass index with suicide mortality: a prospective cohort study of more than one million men. Am J Epidemiol 2006; 163(1):1-8.

28. Hemmingsson T, Melin B, Allebeck P. et al. The association between cognitive ability measured at ages 18-20 and mortality during 30 years of follow-up – a prospective observational study among Swedish males born 1949-51. Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(3): 665-669.

29. Tomaso H, Mooseder G, Al Dahouk S et al. Seroprevalence of anti-Yersinia antibodies in healthy Austrians. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(1): 77-81

30. Blanchard MS, Eisen SA, Alpern R et al. Chronic multisymptom illness complex in Gulf War 1 Veterans 10 years later.  Am J Epidemiol 2006; 163(1):66-75.

31. Salamon R, Verret C, Jutand MA et al. Health consequences of the first Persian Gulf War on French troops. Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(2):479-487.

32. Clark C, Martin R, van Kempen E, et al. Exposure-effect relations between aircraft and road traffic noise exposure at school and reading comprehension: The RANCH Project.  Am J Epidemiol 2006; 163(1):27-37.

33. Rauh MJ, Koepsell TD, Rivara FP et al. Epidemiology of musculoskeletal injuries among high school cross-country runners. Am J Epidemiol 2006; 163(2):151-159.

34. Foxman B, Gillespie B, Manning SD, et al. Incidence and duration of Group B Streptococcus by serotype among male and female college students living in a single dormitory. Am J Epidemiol 2006:163(6): 544-551.

35. Dundas R, Leyland AH, Macintyre S et al. Does the primary school attended influence self-reported health or its risk factors in later life? Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(2):458-465.

36. Papadopoulos FC, Skalkidis I, Parkkari J et al. Doping use among tertiary education students in six developed countries. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(4): 307-314.

37. Breeze E, Clarke R, Shipley MJ et al. Cause-specific mortality in old age in relation to body mass index in middle age and in old age: follow-up of the Whitehall cohort of male civil servants. Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(1):169-178

38. Lee D-H, Ha M-H, Kam S et al. A Strong secular trend in serum gamma-glutamyltransferase from 1996 to 2003 among South Korean men. Am J Epidemiol 2006; 163(1):57-65.

39. Wernli KJ, Fitzgibbons ED, Ray RM, et al. Occupational risk factors for esophageal and stomach cancers among female textile workers in Shanghai, China. Am J Epidemiol 2006:163(8): 717-725.

40. Hoppin JA, Umbach DM, London SJ et al. Pesticides associated with wheeze among commercial pesticide applicators in the Agricultural Health Study. Am J Epidemiol 2006: 163(12): 1129-1137.

41. Lindsay L, Jackson LA, Savitz DA et al. Community influenza activity and risk of acute influenza-like illness episodes among healthy unvaccinated pregnant and postpartum women. Am J Epidemiol 2006:163(9): 838-848

42. Rickettts KD, Slaymaker E, Verlander NQ et al. What is the probability of successive cases of Legionnaire’s disease occurring in European hotels. Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(2):354-360.

43. Cain EC, Cole SR, Chmiel JS et al. Effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy on multiple AIDS-defining illnesses among male HIV serovonverters. Am J Epidemiol 2006; 163(4):310-315.

44. Lucas GM, Griswold M, Gebo KA et al. Illicit drug use and HIV-1 disease progression: a longitudinal study in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy. Am J Epidemiol 2006:163(5): 412-420.

45. Victor JC, Surdina TY, Suleimenova SZ et al.  Person-to-person transmission of Hepatitis A virus in an urban area of intermediate endemicity: implications for vaccination strategies. Am J Epidemiol 2006; 163(3): 204-210.

46. Spinelli R, Brandonisio O, Serio G et al. Intestinal parasites in healthy subjects in Albania. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(2): 161-166.

47. Dunn KM, Jordan K, Croft PR. Characterizing the course of low back pain: a latent class analysis. Am J Epidemiol 2006:163(8): 754-761.

48. Thomas SL, Wheeler JG, Hall AJ.  Micronutrient intake and the risk of herpes zoster: a case-control study. Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(2):307-314.

49. Aggarwal VR, McBeth J, Zakrzewska JM et al. The epidemiology of chronic syndromes that are frequently unexplained: do they have common associated factors?. Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(2):468-476.

50. Kim J, Evans S, Smeeth L et al. Hormone replacement therapy and acute myocardial infarction: a large observational study exploring the influence of age. Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(3): 731-737.

51. Kwon HL, Belanger K, Holford TR et al. Effect of fetal sex on airway lability in pregnant women with asthma.  Am J Epidemiol 2006; 163(3): 217- 221.

52. Jaddoe VWV, Mackenbach JP, Moll HA, et al. The Generation R study: design and cohort profile. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(6): 475-484

53. Grosso LM, Triche EW, Belanger K, et al. Caffeine metabolites in umbilical cord blood, cytochrome P-450 1A2 activity, and intrauterine growth restriction. Am J Epidemiol 2006: 163(11): 1035-1041.

54. Sacerdote C, Fiorini L, Rosato R et al. Randomized controlled trial: effect of nutritional counseling in general practice.  Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(2):409-415.

55. Leblebicioglu H, Yilmaz H, Tasova Y, et al. Characteristics and analysis of risk factors for mortality in infective endocarditis. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(1): 25-31

56. Park HS, Song Y-M, Cho S-I. Obesity has a greater impact on cardiovascular mortality in younger men than in older men among non-smoking Koreans. Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(1):181-187.

57. Jackson LA, Jackson ML, Nelson JC. et al. Evidence of bias in estimates of influenza vaccine effectiveness in seniors.  Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(2):337-344

58. Jackson LA, Nelson JC, Benson P et al. Functional status is a confounder of the association of influenza vaccine and risk of all cause mortality in seniors. Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(2):345-352.

59. Zubaid M, Thalib L, Suresh CG. Incidence of acute myocardial infarction during Islamic holiday seasons. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(3): 191-196.

60. Gerlich M, Gschwend P, Uchtenhagen A et al. Prevalence of hepatitis and HIV infections and vaccination rates in patients entering the heroin-assisted treatment in Switzerland between 1994 and 2002. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(7): 545-550.

61. Chatzipanagiotou S, Maria E, Constatina P, et al. Incidence of bacterial and viral enteric pathogens in children with gastroenteritis over a one year-period, in Attica, Greece. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(8): 613-614.

62. de Pedro-Cuesta J, Bleda MJ, Rabano A. et al: Classification of surgical procedures for epidemiologic assessment of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease transmission by surgery. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(8): 595-604

63. Eveillard M, Lancien E, deLassence A et al.  Impact of the reinforcement of a Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus control programme: a 3-year evaluation by several indicators in a French University Hospital. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(7): 551-558

64. Kourbatova EV, Leonard Jr MK, Romero J et al. Risk Factors for mortality among patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis at an academic inner-city hospital in the US. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(9):715-721

65. Blomgren KJ, Sundstrom A, Steineck G et al. Interviewer variability – quality aspects in a case-control study. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(4): 267-278

66. Saetta AA, Michaloppoulos NV, Malamis G et al. Analysis of PRNP gene codon 129 polymorphism in the Greek population. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(3): 211-216.

67. Minola E, Baldo V, Baldovin T et al. Intrafamilial transmission of hepatitis C virus infection. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(4): 293-298.

68. Gurol E, Saban C, Oral O et al. Trends in hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus among blood donors over 16 years in Turkey. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(4): 299-306.

69. Klungsoyr O, Nygard JF, Sorensen T et al. Cigarette smoking and incidence of first depressive episode: an 11-year, population-based follow-up Study. Am J Epidemiol 2006:163(5): 421-432.

70. Sowers M, Jannausch ML, Gross M et al. Performance-based physical functioning in African-American and Caucasian women at midlife: considering body composition, quadriceps strength, and knee osteoarthritis. Am J Epidemiol 2006: 163(10): 950-958.

71. Muntner P, DeSalvo KB, Wildman RP et al: Trends in the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of cardiovascular disease risk factors among noninstitutionalized patients with a history of myocardial infarction and stroke. Am J Epidemiol 2006: 163(10): 913-920.

72. Moore S.  Peripherality, income inequality, and life expectancy: revisiting the income inequality hypothesis. Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(3): 623-632.

73. Kesteloot H. Differential evolution of mortality between Denmark and Scotland, period 1970 to 1999. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(1): 3-14.

74. Boffetta P, Casging M, Brennan P. A geographical correlation study of the incidence of pancreatic and other cancers in Whites. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(1): 39-46.

75. Svensson E, Moger TA, Tretli S et al. Frailty modeling of colorectal cancer incidence in Norway: Indications that individual heterogeneity in risk is related to birth cohort. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(8): 587-593

76. Zhang J, Munger RG, West NA et al. Antioxidant intake and risk of osteoporotic hip fracture in Utah: an effect modified by smoking status. Am J Epidemiol 2006: 163(1): 9-17

77. Kasim K, Levallois P, Johnson KC et al.  Chlorination disinfection by-products in drinking water and the risk of adult leukemia in Canada. Am J Epidemiol 2006; 163(2):116-126 

78. Edwards CG, Schwartzbaum, Lonn S et al. Exposure to loud noise and the risk of acoustic neuroma. Am J Epidemiol 2006:163(4): 327-333

79 Schuz J, Bohler E, Berg G, at al. Cellular phones, cordless phones, and the risks of glioma and meningioma (Interphone Study Group, Germany). Am J Epidemiol 2006:163(6): 512-520.

80. Xu WH, Xiang YB, Zheng W et al. Weight history and risk of endometrial cancer among Chinese women. Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(1):159-166

81. Coen PG, Tully J, Stuart JM et al. Is it exposure to cigarette smoke or to smokers which increases the risk of meningococcal disease in teenagers? Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(2):330-336 

82. Davis S, Day RW, Kopecky KJ et al.  Childhood leukemia in Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine following the Chernobyl power station accident: results from an international collaborative population-based case control study. Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(2):386-396.

83. Kerr-Pontes LRS, Barreto ML, Evangelista CMN et al. Socioeconomic, environmental, and behavioral risk factors for leprosy in North-east Brazil: results of a case control study. Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(4): 994-1000.

84. Okamoto K. Habitual green tea consumption and risk of an aneurismal rupture subarachnoid hemorrhage: a case-control study in Nagoya, Japan Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(5): 367-372

85. Portoles O, Sorli JV, Frances F et al. Effect of genetic variation in the leptin gene promoter and the leptin receptor gene on obesity risk in a population-based case-control study in Spain. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(8): 605-612

86. Salameh PR, Waked M, Baldi I et al. Chronic bronchitis and pesticide exposure: a case-control study in Lebanon. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(9): 681-688.

87. Kurth T, Walker AM, Glynn RJ et al. Results of multivariable logistic regression, propensity matching, propensity adjustment, and propensity-based weighting under conditions of nonuniform effect. Am J Epidemiol 2006; 163(3): 262-270.

88. Canchola AJ, Horn-Ross PL, Purdie DM.  Risk of second primary malignancies in women with papillary thyroid cancer. Am J Epidemiol 2006:163(6): 521-527.

89. Trentham-Dietz A, Nichols HB, Hampton JM et al.  Weight change and the risk of endometrial cancer. Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(1):151-158.

90. Begg CB, Hummer AJ, Mujumdar U et al. A design for cancer case-control studies using only incident cases: experience with the GEM study of melanoma. Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(3): 756-764.

91. McNally RJQ, Pearce MS, Parker L. Space-time clustering analyses of testicular cancer amongst 15-24-year-olds in Northern England. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(2): 139-144.

92. Houben MPWA, Coebergh JWW, Birch JM et al. Space-time clustering of glioma cannot be attributed to specific histological subgroups. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(3): 197-202.

93. Kark JD, Fink R, Adler B et al. The incidence of coronary heart disease among Palestininans and Israelis in Jerusalem. Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(2):448-457.

94. Acs N, Banhidy F, Horvath-Puho E et al. Population-based case-control study of the common cold during pregnancy and congenital anomalies. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(1): 65-76

95. Vegni FE, Wilkinson P. Patterns of respiratory drug use in the Lombardy region of Italy, 1995-1997.  Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(7): 537-544.

96. Kavanagh AM, Turrell G, Subramanian SV.  Does area-based social capital matter for the health of Australians? A multilevel analysis of self-rated health in Tasmania. Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(3): 607-613.

97 Greene SK, Ionides EL, Wilson M. Patterns of influenza-associated mortality among US elderly by geographic region and virus subtype, 1968-1998. Am J Epidemiol 2006:163(4): 316-326.

98. Polasek O. Did the 1991-1995 wars in the former Yugoslavia affect sex ratio at birth? Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(1): 61-64.

99. Pearce J and Dorling D. Increasing geographical inequalities in health in New Zealand, 1980-2001.  Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(3):597-603.

100. Chaix B, Rosvau M, Lynch J, et al. Disentangling contextual effects on cause-specific mortality in a longitudinal 23-year follow-up study: impact of population density or socioeconomic environment?.  Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(3): 633-642.

101. Sartorius B, Jacobsen H, Torner A et al. Description of  a new all cause mortality surveillance system in Sweden as a warning system using threshold detection algorithms. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(3): 181-190.

102. Borreli C, Mari-Dell’Olmo M, Rodriguez-Sanz M et al.  Socioeconomic position and excess mortality during the heat wave of 2003 in Bercelona. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(9): 633)

103. Harding S, Boroujerdi M, Santana P et al. Decline in, and lack of difference between, average birth weights among African and Portuguese babies in Portugal. Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(2):270-276.

104. Arntzen A, Samuelsen SO, Daltveit AK et al Post-neonatal mortality in Norway 1969-95: a cause-specific analysis. Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(4): 1083-1089.

105. Silviken A, Haldorsen T, Kvernmo S. Suicide among indigenous Sami in Arctic Norway, 1970-1998. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(9): 707-713.

106. de Greeff SC, Spanjaar L, Dankert J et al. Underreporting of meningococcal disease incidence in the Netherlands: Results from a capture-recapture analysis based on three registration sources with correction for false positive diagnoses. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(4): 315-322.

107. Montagna MT, Napoli C, Tato D et al. Clinical-environmental surveillance of legionellosis: an experience in Southern Italy. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(4): 325-332.

108 Link MW, Ahluwalia IB, Euler GL et al. Racial and ethnic disparities in influenza vaccination coverage among adults during the 2004-2005 Season. Am J Epidemiol 2006:163(6): 571-578.

109. Massari V, Viboud C, Dorleans Y et al. Decline in HCV testing and compliance with guidelines of Sentinelles general practitioners, 1996-2002. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(5): 397-406.

110 van Everbroeck B, Michotte A, Sciot R et al. Increased incidence of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in age groups between 70 and 90 years in Belgium. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(6): 443-448.

111. Jensen OC. Injury risk at the work processes in fishing: a case referent study. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(7): 521-528.

112. Singh GK, Hiatt RA. Trends and disparities in socioeconomic and behavioural characteristics, life expectancy, and cause-specific mortality of native-born and foreign-born populations in the United States, 1979-2003. Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(4): 903-918.

113. Nishiura H. Epidemiology of a primary pneumonic plague in Kantoshu, Manchuria, from 1910 to 1911: statistical analysis of individual records collected by the Japanese Empire. Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(4): 1059-1065.

114. Sonnenberg A. Causes underlying the birth-cohort phenomenon of peptic ulcer: analysis of mortality data 1911-2000.  Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(4): 1090-1096.

115. Cameron JC, Walsh D, Finlayson AR et al. Oral Polio Vaccine and intussusception: A Data linkage study using records for vaccination and hospitalization. Am J Epidemiol 2006:163(6): 528-533.

116. Emch M, Ali M, Park J-K, et al. Relationship between neighborhood-level killed oral cholera vaccine coverage and protective efficacy: evidence of herd immunity. Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(4): 1044-1050.

117. Pedersen CB, Mortensen PB. Are the cause(s) responsible for urban-rural differences in schizophrenia risk rooted in families or in individuals? Am J Epidemiol 2006; 163(11):971-978.

118. Bager P, Nielsen NM, Bihrmann K, et al. Sibship characteristics and risk of multiple sclerosis: a nationwide cohort study in Denmark. Am J Epidemiol 2006: 163(12): 1112-1117.

119. Artama M, Ritvanen A, Gissler M et al. Congenital structural anomalies in offspring of women with epilepsy - a population-based cohort study in Finland. Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(2):280-287

120. van Euler-Chelpin M. Olsen AH, Njor S et al. Women’s patterns of participation in mammography screening in Denmark. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(3): 203-210.

121. Yang Q, Wen SW, Smith GN et al. Maternal cigarette smoking and the risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension and eclampsia. Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(2):288-293.

122. Morley R, McCalman J, Carlin JB. Birth weight and coronary heart disease in a cohort born in 1857-1900 in Melbourne, Australia. Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(4): 880-885.

123. Frisch M, Pedersen B V, Wohlfart J et al. Reproductive patterns and non-Hodgkin lymphoma risk in Danish women and men. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(9): 673-679.

124. Singh GK, Siahpush M. Widening socioeconomic inequalities in US life expectancy, 1980-2000. Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(4): 969-979.

125. Blakely T, Atkinson J, Ivory V et al.  No association of neighborhood volunteerism with mortality in New Zealand. Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(4): 981-988.

126. Hemmingsson T and Lundberg I. Is the association between low job control and coronary heart disease confounded by risk factors measured in childhood and adolescence among Swedish males 40-53 years of age? Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(3): 616-622.

127. Yang G, Rao C, Ma J et al. Validation of verbal autopsy procedures for adult deaths in China. Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(3): 741-747.

128. Magnusson PKE, Rasmussen F, Gyllensten UB. Height at age 18 years is a strong predictor of attained education later in life: cohort study of over 950,000 Swedish males. Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(3): 658-662.

129. Christensen PB, Kringsholm B, Banner J et al. Surveillance of HIV and viral hepatitis by analysis of samples from drug related deaths. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(5): 383-388.

130. Mjoen et al: Linkage of reproductive outcome data with occupation data. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(7): 529

131 Fezeu L, Minkoulou E, Balkau B, et al. Association between socioeconomic status and adiposity in urban Cameroon.  Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(1):105-111.

132. Russel MB, Levi N, Saltyte-Benth J-S, et al. Tension-type headaches in adolescents and adults: a population-based study of 33,764 twins. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(2): 153-160.

133 Van der Pols, Xu C, Boyle GM et al. Expression of p53 tumor suppressor protein in sun-exposed skin and associations with sunscreen use and time spent outdoors: a community-based study. Am J Epidemiol 2006: 163(11): 982-988.

134 Tikkinen KAO, Auvinen A, Huhtala H et al. Nocturia and obesity: a population-based study in Finland. Am J Epidemiol 2006: 163(11): 1003-1011.

135. Aro P, Storskrubb T, Ronkainen J et al. Peptic Ulcer disease in a general adult population. The Kalixandra Study: a random population-based study. Am J Epidemiol 2006: 163(11):  1025-1033.

136. Heyworth JS, Glonek G, Maynard EJ et al. Consumption of untreated tank rainwater and gastroenteritis among young children in South Australia. Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(4): 1051-1058.

137. Fan AZ, Russel M, Dorn J et al. Lifetime alcohol drinking pattern is related to the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. The Western New York Health Study (WNYHS) Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(2): 129-138.

138. Lagerros YT, Mucci LA, Bellocco R et al. Validity and reliability of self-reported total energy expenditure using a novel instrument. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(3): 227-236.

139. Rathmann W, Haastert B, Giani G et al. Is Inflammation a causal chain between low socioeconomic status and type 2 diabetes? Results from the KORA survey 2000. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(1): 55-60. 

140. Kuehni CE, Strippoli M-P F, Zwahlen M et al. Association between reported exposure to road traffic and respiratory symptoms in children: evidence of bias. Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(3): 779-786.

141. Chiolero A, Gervasoni P-J, Rwebogora A et al. Difference in blood pressure readings with mercury and automated devices: impact on hypertension prevalence estimates in Dar es Salam, Tanzania. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(6): 427-434.

142 Medina-Ramon M, Zanobetti A, Schwartz J. The effect of ozone and PM10 on hospital admissions for pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a national multicity study. Am J Epidemiol 2006:163(6): 579-588.

143. Zeka A, Zanobetti A, Schwartz J. individual-level modifiers of the effects of particulate matter on daily mortality. Am J Epidemiol 2006:163(9): 849-859.

144. Jackson LE, Hilborn ED, Thomas JC. Towards landscape design guidelines for reducing Lyme disease risk. Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(2):315-322.

145. Cheng AC, Jacups SP, Gal D et al. Extreme weather events and environmental contamination are associated with case-clusters of melioidosis in the Northern Territory of Australia. Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35(2):323-329

146. Muntoni S, Cocco P, Muntoni S et al. Nitrate in community water supplies and risk of childhood type 1 diabetes in Sardinia, Italy. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(3): 245-247.

147 Boldo E, Medina S, Le Tertre A et al. Apheis: Health impact assessment of long-term exposure to PM2.5 in 23 European cities. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(6): 449-458.

148. Michele M, Alberto M, Liana S et al. Do environmental factors influence the occurrence of acute meningitis in industrialized countries? An epidemic of varying aetiology in Northern Italy. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(6): 465-468.

149. Villeneuve PJ, Chen LI, Stieb D et al. Associations between outdoor air pollution and emergency department visits for stroke in Edmonton, Canada. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(9): 689-700.

150. Ekman A, Dickman PW, Klint A, et al. Feasibility of using web-based questionnaires in large population-based epidemiological studies. Eur J Epidemiol 2006; 21(2): 103-112.



[i] Alexandra Ekman, Paul W Dickman, Asa Klint, Elisabete Wederpass, and Jan-Eric Litton. Feasibility of using web-based questionnaires in large population-based epidemiological studies, European Journal of Epidemiology 2006; 21: (2): 103-111.

ŠProfessor Omar Hasan Kasule, Sr. December, 2007