Observational data are often used for research in critical care. Unlike randomized controlled trials, where randomization theoretically balances confounding factors, studies involving observational data pose the challenge of how to adjust appropriately for the bias and confounding that are inherent when comparing two or more groups of patients. This paper first highlights the potential sources of bias and confounding in critical care research and then reviews the statistical techniques available (matching, stratification, multivariable adjustment, propensity scores, and instrumental variables) to adjust for confounders. Finally, issues that need to be addressed when interpreting the results of observational studies, such as residual confounding, causality, and missing data, are discussed.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrc.2006.01.004 | DOI Listing |
Am J Clin Nutr
January 2025
Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Electronic address:
Background: While healthy dietary and lifestyle factors have been individually linked to lower colorectal cancer (CRC) risks, recommendations for whole diet-lifestyle patterns remained unestablished due to limited studies and inconsistent pattern definitions.
Objective: This updated review synthesized literature on dietary-lifestyle patterns and CRC risk/mortality.
Methods: PubMed and Embase were searched through 31 March 2023 for randomized controlled trials and prospective cohort studies examining adulthood dietary patterns combined with modifiable lifestyle factors such as adiposity, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and/or others.
J Affect Disord
January 2025
Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China. Electronic address:
Background: Depression and cognitive impairments are prevalent among older adults, with evidence suggesting potential links to obesity and lipid metabolism disturbances. This study investigates the relationships between the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, body mass index (BMI), depression, and cognitive dysfunction in older adults, leveraging data from the NHANES survey and employing machine learning techniques.
Methods: We analysed 1352 participants aged 60-79 from the 2011-2014 NHANES dataset, who underwent cognitive function testing, depression assessments, and TyG index measurements.
J Exp Psychol Gen
January 2025
Department of Cognitive and Psychological Sciences, Brown University.
Faces-the most common and complex stimuli in our daily lives-contain multidimensional information used to infer social attributes that guide consequential behaviors, such as deciding who to trust. Decades of research illustrates that perceptual information from faces is processed holistically. An open question, however, is whether goals might impact this perceptual process, influencing the encoding and representation of the complex social information embedded in faces.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExpert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res
January 2025
IQVIA, Durham, NC.
Introduction: The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is expected to result in lower drug prices for Medicare beneficiaries in the United States (US). The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the most recent draft guidance for the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation (DPN) program in May 2024.
Areas Covered: In August 2023, the list of 10 drugs selected for the DPN were published and the first round of negotiations are now complete.
Lancet Infect Dis
January 2025
Geneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland; Médecins Sans Frontières, Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA; Division of Tropical and Humanitarian Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland. Electronic address:
Background: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a leading cause of acute viral hepatitis, particularly in Asia and Africa, where HEV genotypes 1 and 2 are prevalent. Although a recombinant vaccine, Hecolin, is available, it has not been used to control outbreaks. The licensed three-dose regimen might pose challenges for it to be an impactful outbreak control tool.
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