Re: epidemiological investigations- QUESTION

[Guest guest]

Barb,

I think you are asking why not study a large group WITH a

disease or problem to find what they have in common, because

that might point toward the cause. The problem, just like when

we shared our PSC backgrounds, is that not all members will

share a characteristic and widely shared characteristics may be

widely shared by the general population, so no clear picture may

emerge.

Epidemiological investigations try to identify what is different

between - for example - those who did or did not take HRT. As

noted in the article Aubrey posted, the HRT group was thinner,

exercised more, etc. but the study adjusted for those factors

and came to the conclusion HRT reduced heart disease,

Alzheimer's

disease, broken bones from osteoporosis, etc. The new study

suggests the original analysis missed something for which an

adjustment should have be made. As the article concluded: " There

must be an explanation, " Dr. Michels said. " There is only one

truth. "

Warning, the rest of this post is associated with this topic but

irrelevant.

There are other large long term studies in existence. Begun in

1957 by the University of Michigan, the Tecumseh Community

Health Study has provided the data for studies of high blood

pressure in offspring, breast cancer and chronic obstructive

pulmonary disease

'The Tecumseh Community Health Study is a comprehensive

epidemiological investigation of health and disease in a natural

community (defined as the population of a geographically defined

area and the physical, biological, and social environment in

which that population lives). The purpose of the study is to

detect characteristics of human beings and their environment

that relate to health, to resistance and susceptibility to

disease, and to onset and course of disease.'

For the full text, see:

http://www.research.umich.edu/proposals/proposal_dev/UM_Resources/Tecumseh.html

Tim R

__________________________________________________