Estimation of population attributable fractions from fitted incidence ratios and exposure survey data, with an application to electromagnetic fields and childhood leukemia

Biometrics. 2001 Mar;57(1):182-8. doi: 10.1111/j.0006-341x.2001.00182.x.

Abstract

Standard presentations of epidemiological results focus on incidence-ratio estimates derived from regression models fit to specialized study data. These data are often highly nonrepresentative of populations for which public-health impacts must be evaluated. Basic methods are provided for interval estimation of attributable fractions from model-based incidence-ratio estimates combined with independent survey estimates of the exposure distribution in the target population of interest. These methods are illustrated in estimation of the potential impact of magnetic-field exposures on childhood leukemia in the United States, based on pooled data from 11 case-control studies and a U.S. sample survey of magnetic-field exposures.

MeSH terms

  • Biometry*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child
  • Data Collection
  • Data Interpretation, Statistical
  • Electromagnetic Fields / adverse effects*
  • Epidemiologic Methods*
  • Humans
  • Leukemia / epidemiology*
  • Leukemia / etiology*
  • Models, Statistical
  • United States / epidemiology