TY - JOUR
T1 - Critical issues in ALS case-control studies
T2 - the case of the Euro-MOTOR study
AU - D’Ovidio, Fabrizio
AU - Rooney, James P.K.
AU - Visser, Anne E.
AU - Vermeulen, Roel C.H.
AU - Veldink, Jan H.
AU - Van Den Berg, Leonard H.
AU - Hardiman, Orla
AU - Logroscino, Giancarlo
AU - Chiò, Adriano
AU - Beghi, Ettore
AU - for the Euro-MOTOR Group
PY - 2017/7/3
Y1 - 2017/7/3
N2 - Backround: Political and sociocultural differences between countries can affect the outcome of clinical and epidemiological studies in ALS. Cross-national studies represent the ideal process by which risk factors can be assessed using the same methodology in different geographical areas. Methods: A survey of three European countries (The Netherlands, Ireland and Italy) has been conducted in which incident ALS patients and matched controls were recruited in a population-based study based on age, gender and area of residency, under the Euro-MOTOR systems biology programme of research. Findings: We have identified strengths and limitations during the trajectory of the Euro-MOTOR study, from the research design to data analysis. We have analysed the implications of factors including cross-national differences in healthcare systems, sample size, types of matching, the definition of exposures and statistical analysis. Conclusions: Addressing critical methodological aspects of the design of the Euro-MOTOR project minimises bias and will facilitate scientific assessment of the independent role of well-defined exposures.
AB - Backround: Political and sociocultural differences between countries can affect the outcome of clinical and epidemiological studies in ALS. Cross-national studies represent the ideal process by which risk factors can be assessed using the same methodology in different geographical areas. Methods: A survey of three European countries (The Netherlands, Ireland and Italy) has been conducted in which incident ALS patients and matched controls were recruited in a population-based study based on age, gender and area of residency, under the Euro-MOTOR systems biology programme of research. Findings: We have identified strengths and limitations during the trajectory of the Euro-MOTOR study, from the research design to data analysis. We have analysed the implications of factors including cross-national differences in healthcare systems, sample size, types of matching, the definition of exposures and statistical analysis. Conclusions: Addressing critical methodological aspects of the design of the Euro-MOTOR project minimises bias and will facilitate scientific assessment of the independent role of well-defined exposures.
KW - case-control study
KW - criticisms
KW - Epidemiology
KW - genetics
KW - risk
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U2 - 10.1080/21678421.2017.1285939
DO - 10.1080/21678421.2017.1285939
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85012108468
VL - 18
SP - 411
EP - 418
JO - Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration
JF - Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration
SN - 2167-8421
IS - 5-6
ER -