Death or survival, which you measure may affect conclusions: A methodological study
Abstract Background and Aims Considering the opposite outcome—for example, survival instead of death—may affect conclusions about which subpopulation benefits more from a treatment or suffers more from an exposure. Methods For case studies on death following COVID‐19 and bankruptcy following melanom...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Health Science Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.905 |
| _version_ | 1797772330426957824 |
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| author | Jake Shannin Babette A. Brumback |
| author_facet | Jake Shannin Babette A. Brumback |
| author_sort | Jake Shannin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background and Aims Considering the opposite outcome—for example, survival instead of death—may affect conclusions about which subpopulation benefits more from a treatment or suffers more from an exposure. Methods For case studies on death following COVID‐19 and bankruptcy following melanoma, we compute and interpret the relative risk, odds ratio, and risk difference for different age groups. Since there is no established effect measure or outcome for either study, we redo these analyses for survival and solvency. Results In a case study on COVID‐19 that ignores confounding, the relative risk of death suggested that 40–49‐year‐old Mexicans with COVID‐19 suffered more from their unprepared healthcare system, using Italy's system as a baseline, than their 60–69‐year‐old counterparts. The relative risk of survival and the risk difference suggested the opposite conclusion. A similar phenomenon occurred in a case study on bankruptcy following melanoma treatment. Conclusion To increase transparency around this paradox, researchers reporting one outcome should note if considering the opposite outcome would yield different conclusions. When possible, researchers should also report or estimate underlying risks alongside effect measures. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T21:50:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bdc5507effdf406897ef9a85fc5ff99a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2398-8835 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T21:50:32Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health Science Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-bdc5507effdf406897ef9a85fc5ff99a2023-07-26T04:31:47ZengWileyHealth Science Reports2398-88352022-11-0156n/an/a10.1002/hsr2.905Death or survival, which you measure may affect conclusions: A methodological studyJake Shannin0Babette A. Brumback1Department of Statistics University of Florida Gainesville Florida USADepartment of Biostatistics University of Florida Gainesville Florida USAAbstract Background and Aims Considering the opposite outcome—for example, survival instead of death—may affect conclusions about which subpopulation benefits more from a treatment or suffers more from an exposure. Methods For case studies on death following COVID‐19 and bankruptcy following melanoma, we compute and interpret the relative risk, odds ratio, and risk difference for different age groups. Since there is no established effect measure or outcome for either study, we redo these analyses for survival and solvency. Results In a case study on COVID‐19 that ignores confounding, the relative risk of death suggested that 40–49‐year‐old Mexicans with COVID‐19 suffered more from their unprepared healthcare system, using Italy's system as a baseline, than their 60–69‐year‐old counterparts. The relative risk of survival and the risk difference suggested the opposite conclusion. A similar phenomenon occurred in a case study on bankruptcy following melanoma treatment. Conclusion To increase transparency around this paradox, researchers reporting one outcome should note if considering the opposite outcome would yield different conclusions. When possible, researchers should also report or estimate underlying risks alongside effect measures.https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.905effect‐measure modificationodds ratiorelative risksrisk differencevaccine efficacy |
| spellingShingle | Jake Shannin Babette A. Brumback Death or survival, which you measure may affect conclusions: A methodological study Health Science Reports effect‐measure modification odds ratio relative risks risk difference vaccine efficacy |
| title | Death or survival, which you measure may affect conclusions: A methodological study |
| title_full | Death or survival, which you measure may affect conclusions: A methodological study |
| title_fullStr | Death or survival, which you measure may affect conclusions: A methodological study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Death or survival, which you measure may affect conclusions: A methodological study |
| title_short | Death or survival, which you measure may affect conclusions: A methodological study |
| title_sort | death or survival which you measure may affect conclusions a methodological study |
| topic | effect‐measure modification odds ratio relative risks risk difference vaccine efficacy |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.905 |
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