Detection Bias in Dementia Studies Using Health Records
Author Information
Author(s): Wang Jingxuan, Choi Minhyuk, Zimmerman Scott, Chen Ruijia, Schaefer Cathy, Blacker Deborah, Glymour M Maria
Primary Institution: University of California San Francisco
Hypothesis
Are electronic health record data in dementia studies affected by detection bias?
Conclusion
The study found that certain health conditions are associated with a temporary increase in dementia diagnoses, likely due to detection bias.
Supporting Evidence
- 298,784 participants from the UK Biobank and 105,836 from All of Us were included in the study.
- Three health conditions were evaluated for their association with dementia diagnoses.
- The association with dementia was strongest in the first year after exposure to the health conditions.
Takeaway
If you go to the doctor for something like a kidney stone, you might get diagnosed with dementia more often right after, but that's probably because doctors are paying more attention to you.
Methodology
The study used Cox models to evaluate associations of three negative control exposures with dementia in participants aged 55 and older.
Potential Biases
Detection bias may affect the results due to increased healthcare contact.
Limitations
The influence of the studied conditions on dementia pathology is likely to be small or null.
Participant Demographics
Participants were aged 55 and older without baseline dementia.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website