Evaluation of Nonresponse Bias in a Case–Control Study of Pleural Mesothelioma

Chiara Airoldi, Daniela Ferrante, Dario Mirabelli, Danila Azzolina and Corrado Magnani
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Chiara Airoldi: Department of Translational Medicine, Unit of Medical Statistics and Cancer Epidemiology, University of Eastern Piedmont, CPO-Piedmont, 28100 Novara, Italy
Daniela Ferrante: Department of Translational Medicine, Unit of Medical Statistics and Cancer Epidemiology, University of Eastern Piedmont, CPO-Piedmont, 28100 Novara, Italy
Dario Mirabelli: Department of Medical Sciences, Unit of Cancer Epidemiology, CPO Piemonte and University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
Danila Azzolina: Department of Translational Medicine, Unit of Medical Statistics and Cancer Epidemiology, University of Eastern Piedmont, CPO-Piedmont, 28100 Novara, Italy
Corrado Magnani: Department of Translational Medicine, Unit of Medical Statistics and Cancer Epidemiology, University of Eastern Piedmont, CPO-Piedmont, 28100 Novara, Italy

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 17, 1-9

Abstract: Nonparticipation limits the power of epidemiological studies, and can cause bias. In a case–control study on pleural malignant mesothelioma (MM), we found low participation in interviews (63%) among controls. Our goal was to characterize nonresponder controls and assess nonresponse bias in our study. We selected all nonresponder controls (204) and a random sample of responder controls (174). Data were obtained linking hospital admissions and town registrars, and concordance between sources was assessed. Nonresponse bias was evaluated using a logistic regression model applying the inverse probability weighting approach. The odds ratio (OR) for the status of the respondents was 0.61 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.33–1.16) for controls aged 61–70, 0.37 (CI: 0.20–0.66) for those aged 71–80, and 0.40 (CI: 0.20–0.80) for those aged above 80 (reference group: ≤60 years). Controls with low education level had lower OR (0.47; CI: 0.26–0.84). After adjustment, the ORs for MM by categories of cumulative exposure to asbestos were similar to the unadjusted results, ranging from 4.6 (CI: 1.8–11.7) for cumulative exposures between 0.1 and 1 f/mL-y to 57.5 (CI: 20.2–163.9) above 10 f/mL-y. Responder controls were younger and had higher education level. Nevertheless, there was little evidence of bias from nonresponse in the risk estimates of MM.

Keywords: nonrespondents; record linkage; agreement; asbestos (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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