Trends in air pollution and mortality: an approach to the assessment of unmeasured confounding

Janes, H; Dominici, F; Zeger, SL

HERO ID

90927

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2007

Language

English

PMID

17568215

HERO ID 90927
In Press No
Year 2007
Title Trends in air pollution and mortality: an approach to the assessment of unmeasured confounding
Authors Janes, H; Dominici, F; Zeger, SL
Journal Epidemiology
Volume 18
Issue 4
Page Numbers 416-423
Abstract We propose a method for diagnosing confounding bias under a model that links a spatially and temporally varying exposure and health outcome. We decompose the association into orthogonal components, corresponding to distinct spatial and temporal scales of variation. If the model fully controls for confounding, the exposure effect estimates should be equal at the different temporal and spatial scales. We show that the overall exposure effect estimate is a weighted average of the scale-specific exposure effect estimates. We use this approach to estimate the association between monthly averages of fine particles (PM2.5) over the preceding 12 months and monthly mortality rates in 113 US counties from 2000 to 2002. We decompose the association between PM2.5 and mortality into 2 components: (1) the association between "national trends" in PM2.5 and mortality; and (2) the association between "local trends," defined as county-specific deviations from national trends. This second component provides evidence as to whether counties having steeper declines in PM2.5 also have steeper declines in mortality relative to their national trends. We find that the exposure effect estimates are different at these 2 spatiotemporal scales, which raises concerns about confounding bias. We believe that the association between trends in PM2.5 and mortality at the national scale is more likely to be confounded than is the association between trends in PM2.5 and mortality at the local scale. If the association at the national scale is set aside, there is little evidence of an association between 12-month exposure to PM2.5 and mortality.
Doi 10.1097/EDE.0b013e31806462e9
Pmid 17568215
Wosid WOS:000247329500002
Url https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/trends-air-pollution-mortality-approach/docview/21416972/se-2?accountid=171501
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Comments ECRIB.Trends in air pollution and mortality: an approach to the assessment of unmeasured confounding.Epidemiology 18: 416-423.
Is Public Yes
Language Text English
Keyword Toxicology Abstracts; Pollution Abstracts; Risk Abstracts; Health & Safety Science Abstracts; Meteorological & Geoastrophysical Abstracts; Particle size; Particulate atmospheric pollution; Mortality; Particulates; Mortality due to atmospheric pollution; Atmospheric pollution and health; spatial distribution; Atmospheric pollution; Atmospheric pollution models; Pollution effects; Air pollution; Particulate matter in atmosphere; R2 23060:Medical and environmental health; M2 551.510.42:Air Pollution (551.510.42); X 24300:Methods; P 6000:TOXICOLOGY AND HEALTH; H 12000:Epidemiology and Public Health