The Curse of the Perinatal Epidemiologist: Inferring Causation Amidst Selection
AbstractPurpose of ReviewHuman reproduction is a common process and one that unfolds over a relatively short time, but pregnancy and birth processes are challenging to study. Selection occurs at every step of this process (e.g., infertility, early pregnancy loss, and stillbirth), adding substantial bias to estimated exposure-outcome associations. Here, we focus on selection in perinatal epidemiology, specifically, how it affects research question formulation, feasible study designs, and interpretation of results.Recent FindingsApproaches have recently been proposed to address selection issues in perinatal epidemiology. One...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - September 27, 2018 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
Methodological Challenges for Risk Prediction in Perinatal Epidemiology
AbstractPurpose of ReviewTo discuss the methodological challenges in developing risk prediction models in perinatal epidemiology and barriers to their implementation in clinical practice.Recent FindingsIn perinatal epidemiology, risk prediction models have been created to examine the risk of adverse health outcomes in pregnancy, delivery, and post-partum periods. However, only a limited number of prediction models are being used to guide clinical decisions.SummaryThe accuracy and utility of prediction models for clinical decision making are contingent on the use of robust methods to develop risk prediction models and appro...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - September 22, 2018 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
Current Issues in the Development of Foetal Growth References and Standards
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis paper discusses the current issues in the development of foetal charts and is informed by a scoping review of studies constructing charts between 2012 and 2018.Recent FindingsThe scoping review of 20 articles revealed that there is still a lack of consensus on how foetal charts should be constructed and whether an international chart that can be applied across populations is feasible. Many of these charts are in clinical use today and directly affect the identification of at risk newborns that require treatment and nutritional strategies. However, there is no agreement on important design feat...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - September 20, 2018 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
Using Machine Learning to Identify Health Outcomes from Electronic Health Record Data
AbstractPurpose of ReviewElectronic health records (EHRs) contain valuable data for identifying health outcomes, but these data also present numerous challenges when creating computable phenotyping algorithms. Machine learning methods could help with some of these challenges. In this review, we discuss four common scenarios that researchers may find helpful for thinking critically about when and for what tasks machine learning may be used to identify health outcomes from EHR data.Recent FindingsWe first consider the conditions in which machine learning may be especially useful with respect to two dimensions of a health out...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - September 20, 2018 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
“Under the Skin” and into the Gut: Social Epidemiology of the Microbiome
AbstractPurpose of the ReviewAs the science of the microbiome advances, social epidemiologists can contribute to understanding how the broader social environment shapes the microbiome over the life course. This review summarizes current research and describes potential mechanisms of the social epidemiology of the microbiome.Recent FindingsMost existing literature linking the social environment and the microbiome comes from animal models, focused on the impact of social interactions and psychosocial stress. Suggestive evidence of the importance of early life exposures, health behaviors, and the built environment also point ...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - September 20, 2018 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
Current Issues in the Development of Foetal Growth References and Standards
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis paper discusses the current issues in the development of foetal charts and is informed by a scoping review of studies constructing charts between 2012 and 2018.Recent FindingsThe scoping review of 20 articles revealed that there is still a lack of consensus on how foetal charts should be constructed and whether an international chart that can be applied across populations is feasible. Many of these charts are in clinical use today and directly affect the identification of at risk newborns that require treatment and nutritional strategies. However, there is no agreement on important design feat...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - September 20, 2018 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
Using Machine Learning to Identify Health Outcomes from Electronic Health Record Data
AbstractPurpose of ReviewElectronic health records (EHRs) contain valuable data for identifying health outcomes, but these data also present numerous challenges when creating computable phenotyping algorithms. Machine learning methods could help with some of these challenges. In this review, we discuss four common scenarios that researchers may find helpful for thinking critically about when and for what tasks machine learning may be used to identify health outcomes from EHR data.Recent FindingsWe first consider the conditions in which machine learning may be especially useful with respect to two dimensions of a health out...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - September 20, 2018 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
“Under the Skin” and into the Gut: Social Epidemiology of the Microbiome
AbstractPurpose of the ReviewAs the science of the microbiome advances, social epidemiologists can contribute to understanding how the broader social environment shapes the microbiome over the life course. This review summarizes current research and describes potential mechanisms of the social epidemiology of the microbiome.Recent FindingsMost existing literature linking the social environment and the microbiome comes from animal models, focused on the impact of social interactions and psychosocial stress. Suggestive evidence of the importance of early life exposures, health behaviors, and the built environment also point ...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - September 20, 2018 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
Air Pollution and Cardiovascular Disease: a Focus on Vulnerable Populations Worldwide
AbstractPurpose of ReviewCertain subgroups defined by sociodemographics (race/ethnicity, age, sex, and socioeconomic status [SES]), geographic location (rural vs. urban), comorbid conditions, and country economic conditions (developed vs. developing) may disproportionately suffer the adverse cardiovascular effects of exposure to ambient air pollution. Yet, previous reviews have had a broad focus on the general population without consideration of these potentially vulnerable populations.Recent FindingsOver the past decade, a wealth of epidemiologic studies have linked air pollutants including particulate matter, oxides of n...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - September 19, 2018 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
Measurement Error and Misclassification in Electronic Medical Records: Methods to Mitigate Bias
AbstractPurpose of ReviewWe sought to (1) examine common sources of measurement error in research using data from electronic medical records (EMR), (2) discuss methods to assess the extent and type of measurement error, and (3) describe recent developments in methods to address this source of bias.Recent FindingsWe identified eight sources of measurement error frequently encountered in EMR studies, the most prominent being that EMR data usually reflect only the health services and medications delivered within the specific health facility/system contributing to the EMR data. Methods for assessing measurement error in EMR da...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - September 10, 2018 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
Looking to the Future: Spotlight on Emerging Biomarkers for Predicting Cardiovascular Risk
AbstractPurpose of ReviewCoronary artery disease (CAD) continues to be a major contributor to death and disability worldwide. Emerging biomarkers that are linked to CAD pathophysiology have the potential to phenotype CAD severity and identify individuals at high risk for experiencing future CAD events. This review discusses the utility of emergent biomarkers for CAD risk prediction.Recent FindingsMonocytes and neutrophils are key effectors of cardiovascular inflammation, and aspects of their biology have recently been associated with cardiovascular risk. In particular, intermediate (Mon2) monocytosis is robustly associated...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - September 1, 2018 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
