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Case-Control Studies

In: Handbook of Epidemiology

Author

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  • Norman E. Breslow

    (University of Washington, Department of Biostatistics)

Abstract

The case-control study examines the association between disease and potential risk factors by taking separate samples of diseased cases and of controls at risk of developing disease. Information may be collected for both cases and controls on genetic, social, behavioral, environmental or other determinants of disease risk. The basic study design has a long history, extending back at least to Guy’s 1843 comparison of the occupations of men with pulmonary consumption to the occupations of men having other diseases (Lilienfeld and Lilienfeld 1979). Beginning in the 1920’s, it was used to link cancer to environmental and hormonal exposures. Broders (1920) discovered an association between pipe smoking and lip cancer; Lane-Claypon (1926), who selected matched hospital controls, investigated the relationship between reproductive experience and female breast cancer; and Lombard and Doering (1928) related pipe smoking to oral cancer. The publication in 1950 of three reports on the association between cigarette smoking and lung cancer generated enormous interest in case-control methodology as well as bitter criticism (Levin et al. 1950; Wynder and Graham 1950; Doll and Hill 1950). The landmark study of Doll and Hill (1950, 1952), in particular, inspired future generations of epidemiologists to use this methodology. It remains to this day a model for the design and conduct of case-control studies, with excellent suggestions on how to reduce or eliminate selection, interview and recall bias.

Suggested Citation

  • Norman E. Breslow, 2005. "Case-Control Studies," Springer Books, in: Wolfgang Ahrens & Iris Pigeot (ed.), Handbook of Epidemiology, chapter 0, pages 287-319, Springer.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-3-540-26577-1_7
    DOI: 10.1007/978-3-540-26577-1_7
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