The Problem of Confounding in Studies of the Effect of Maternal Drug Use on Pregnancy Outcome
In most epidemilogical studies, the problem of confounding adds to the uncertainty in conclusions drawn. This is also true for studies on the effect of maternal drug use on birth defect risks. This paper describes various types of such confounders and discusses methods to identify and adjust for the...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2012-01-01
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| Series: | Obstetrics and Gynecology International |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/148616 |
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| _version_ | 1832562264690917376 |
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| author | Bengt Källén |
| author_facet | Bengt Källén |
| author_sort | Bengt Källén |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In most epidemilogical studies, the problem of confounding adds to the uncertainty in conclusions drawn. This is also true for studies on the effect of maternal drug use on birth defect risks. This paper describes various types of such confounders and discusses methods to identify and adjust for them. Such confounders can be found in maternal characteristics like age, parity, smoking, use of alcohol, and body mass index, subfertility, and previous pregnancies including previous birth of a malformed child, socioeconomy, race/ethnicity, or country of birth. Confounding by concomitant maternal drug use may occur. A geographical or seasonal confounding can exist. In rare instances, infant sex and multiple birth can appear as confounders. The most difficult problem to solve is often confounding by indication. The problem of confounding is less important for congenital malformations than for many other pregnancy outcomes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5a6ecbcb56024f9d80e1c91db2c76cac |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1687-9589 1687-9597 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2012-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Obstetrics and Gynecology International |
| spelling | doaj-art-5a6ecbcb56024f9d80e1c91db2c76cac2025-02-03T01:23:00ZengWileyObstetrics and Gynecology International1687-95891687-95972012-01-01201210.1155/2012/148616148616The Problem of Confounding in Studies of the Effect of Maternal Drug Use on Pregnancy OutcomeBengt Källén0Tornblad Institute, Lund University, 223 62 Lund, SwedenIn most epidemilogical studies, the problem of confounding adds to the uncertainty in conclusions drawn. This is also true for studies on the effect of maternal drug use on birth defect risks. This paper describes various types of such confounders and discusses methods to identify and adjust for them. Such confounders can be found in maternal characteristics like age, parity, smoking, use of alcohol, and body mass index, subfertility, and previous pregnancies including previous birth of a malformed child, socioeconomy, race/ethnicity, or country of birth. Confounding by concomitant maternal drug use may occur. A geographical or seasonal confounding can exist. In rare instances, infant sex and multiple birth can appear as confounders. The most difficult problem to solve is often confounding by indication. The problem of confounding is less important for congenital malformations than for many other pregnancy outcomes.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/148616 |
| spellingShingle | Bengt Källén The Problem of Confounding in Studies of the Effect of Maternal Drug Use on Pregnancy Outcome Obstetrics and Gynecology International |
| title | The Problem of Confounding in Studies of the Effect of Maternal Drug Use on Pregnancy Outcome |
| title_full | The Problem of Confounding in Studies of the Effect of Maternal Drug Use on Pregnancy Outcome |
| title_fullStr | The Problem of Confounding in Studies of the Effect of Maternal Drug Use on Pregnancy Outcome |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Problem of Confounding in Studies of the Effect of Maternal Drug Use on Pregnancy Outcome |
| title_short | The Problem of Confounding in Studies of the Effect of Maternal Drug Use on Pregnancy Outcome |
| title_sort | problem of confounding in studies of the effect of maternal drug use on pregnancy outcome |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/148616 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT bengtkallen theproblemofconfoundinginstudiesoftheeffectofmaternaldruguseonpregnancyoutcome AT bengtkallen problemofconfoundinginstudiesoftheeffectofmaternaldruguseonpregnancyoutcome |