Elsevier

Annals of Epidemiology

Volume 7, Issue 3, April 1997, Pages 188-193
Annals of Epidemiology

Original report
A nested approach to evaluating dose-response and trend☆

https://doi.org/10.1016/S1047-2797(96)00159-7Get rights and content

Abstract

PURPOSE: Conventional dose-response and trend analysis fits either a linear or categorical logistic model and tests the resulting coefficients. These analyses, however, are based on implausible assumptions.

METHODS: We present an alternative approach that uses likelihood ratio tests to compare nested regression models and determine when a model is rich enough to capture the data trends.

RESULTS: For illustration, we apply this approach to data on diet and colorectal polyps.

CONCLUSIONS: Comparison of linear and quadratic spline logistic models indicates that the conventional approach of using only a linear logistic model would not appropriately describe the association between intake of fruits and vegetables and colorectal polyps in our data. Graphical checking further supports this conclusion.

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Cited by (0)

☆

An initial version of this paper was presented at the 28th annual meeting of the Society for Epidemiologic Research, Snowbird, Utah, 1995.

1

John S. Witte was supported by FIRST Award CA-73270, as well as by grant CA-51923 from the National Cancer Institute.

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