Bonnie R Joubert,Glenn Palmer,David Dunson,Marianthi-Anna Kioumourtzoglou,Brent A Coull
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Human exposure to complex, changing, and variably correlated mixtures of environmental chemicals has presented analytical challenges to epidemiologists and human health researchers. There has been a wide variety of recent advances in statistical methods for analyzing mixtures data, with most methods having open-source software for implementation. However, there is no one-size-fits-all method for analyzing mixtures data given the considerable heterogeneity in scientific focus and study design. For example, some methods focus on predicting the overall health effect of a mixture and others seek to disentangle main effects and pairwise interactions. Some methods are only appropriate for cross-sectional designs, while other methods can accommodate longitudinally measured exposures or outcomes.
OBJECTIVES
This article focuses on simplifying the task of identifying which methods are most appropriate to a particular study design, data type, and scientific focus.
METHODS
We present an organized workflow for statistical analysis considerations in environmental mixtures data and two example applications implementing the workflow. This systematic strategy builds on epidemiological and statistical principles, considering specific nuances for the mixtures' context. We also present an accompanying methods repository to increase awareness of and inform application of existing methods and new methods as they are developed.
DISCUSSION
We note several methods may be equally appropriate for a specific context. This article does not present a comparison or contrast of methods or recommend one method over another. Rather, the presented workflow can be used to identify a set of methods that are appropriate for a given application. Accordingly, this effort will inform application, educate researchers (e.g., new researchers or trainees), and identify research gaps in statistical methods for environmental mixtures that warrant further development. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP16791.
期刊介绍:
Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) is a monthly peer-reviewed journal supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, part of the National Institutes of Health under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Its mission is to facilitate discussions on the connections between the environment and human health by publishing top-notch research and news. EHP ranks third in Public, Environmental, and Occupational Health, fourth in Toxicology, and fifth in Environmental Sciences.