title: Selection bias in case-control studies using relatives as the controls.
abstract: Investigators have suggested using relatives of cases as the control group when studying complex diseases thought to have a major genetic component. However, there is a concern about possible bias and we developed a model to examine the possibility of bias in the selection of relatives as the control group. Assuming the exposure-specific risks of disease remain constant over time, the results indicate that even when there is a correlation in the exposure status among relatives, selection of controls from relatives of cases does not, of itself, introduce bias in the estimate of effect.
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology, UCLA School of Public Health 90024.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Hodge
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Haile
mesh_terms: D015982:Bias; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D008957:Models, Genetic; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015983:Selection Bias; D012801:Sibling Relations