A review of statistical methods for continuous monitoring of malformation frequencies.
Six statistical methods for monitoring of populations are reviewed with special reference to surveillance of congenital malformations. Their characteristics are compared; their relative efficiencies are assessed through both analytical and numerical comparisons. The cumulative sum technique appears to be convenient from most points of view; particular cases in which other methods may be preferred are discussed.
D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D006801:Humans; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013223:Statistics as Topic