A study of alcohol and oral cancer shows a relative risk of 2.0 for men, 2.0 for women, and 4.0 for both sexes combined. What does this suggest?
Understand the Problem
The question presents data regarding the relative risk of oral cancer associated with alcohol consumption in men and women separately and combined. It asks to interpret these results and determine the correct inference regarding the relationship between sex and risk of oral cancer, likely in the context of epidemiology.
Answer
The combined risk of 4.0 suggests confounding by sex.
A relative risk of 2.0 for men and women, but 4.0 for both sexes combined suggests confounding by sex. It implies that when data are combined, sex acts as a confounding variable, affecting the overall risk calculation.
Answer for screen readers
A relative risk of 2.0 for men and women, but 4.0 for both sexes combined suggests confounding by sex. It implies that when data are combined, sex acts as a confounding variable, affecting the overall risk calculation.
More Information
The discrepancies in relative risk values indicate potential issues with how data for men and women were aggregated. Confounding could be due to different drinking patterns or biological responses between sexes.
Tips
A common mistake is overlooking the interaction or confounding variables when interpreting combined relative risk figures.
Sources
- Essential Epidemiology 2nd Edn True / False Questions TEST ... - cambridge.org
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