Assigning time-linked exposure status to controls in unmatched case-control studies: alcohol use and nearly lethal suicide attempts.
In case-control studies, determination of alcohol consumption by cases immediately prior to the injury event is often conceptually straightforward. However, determination of consumption status by controls is difficult because they lack a reference point, especially when cases and controls are not individually matched. We describe a method of assigning alcohol consumption status to controls using a 24-hour drinking history, the distribution in time of case events, and the random assignment of a specific time period to each control subject. This methodology offers a practical approach for determining alcohol consumption status among control subjects immediately prior to a case event, when controls lack a reference point and have not been individually matched to cases. Published in 2001 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Kresnow
M
M
Office of Statistics and Programming, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, MS K-59, Atlanta, Georgia 30341-3724, USA. mkresnow@cdc.gov
Powell
K E
KE
Webb
K B
KB
Mercy
J A
JA
Potter
L B
LB
Simon
T A
TA
Ikeda
R M
RM
Frankowski
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors