Title
Conceptual, epidemiological and methodological design aspects for the study of pre-eclampsia
Other title
Aspectos de diseĂąo conceptual, epidemiolĂłgicas y metodolĂłgicas para el estudio de la preeclampsia
Date Issued
01 January 2016
Access level
open access
Resource Type
letter
Publisher(s)
Facultad de Salud de la Universidad del Valle
Abstract
We read with high interest the article by Alzate et al1, and hereby we share comments about its design, study population and statistical approach along with revisiting some key concepts of the disease. The prevalence of preeclampsia in Colombia is 4.5%2 and a case-control study is appropriate to investigate risk and protective factors associated in such setting and their corresponding Odds Ratios. However, in the population studied by Alzate et al, the proportion of preeclampsia is 10% (387/3866). Under this scenario, a retrospective cohort study design is also appropriate and allows for direct estimation of incidences and relative risks could also be considered with direct estimates of relative risk. The exposure under study here (calcium prescription) is easy to measure from medical or administrative records or electronic files, therefore its comprehensive assessment in the whole population is feasible, cheap and easy to detect. Case-control studies are usually recommended when these requirements are not met for the exposure variable.
Start page
69
Volume
47
Issue
1
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Obstetricia, GinecologĂ­a
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-84962920177
PubMed ID
Source
Colombia Medica
ISSN of the container
01208322
Sources of information: Directorio de ProducciĂłn CientĂ­fica Scopus