The CUSCORE test and the q-interval in cluster analyses of colon cancer and of lymphoma among asbestos workers.
Exposure to a carcinogen is likely to be reflected by temporal clustering of cancer cases among the community members. Detection of such clustering is a complicated task in general and more so in a small workplace community with low turnover rate. In this study we applied the CUSCORE test and the q-interval statistic to lymphoma and colon cancer death data among 2200 asbestos workers. The CUSCORE test was applied in order to identify clusters, and the q-interval was used to provide clues related to the cause of the cluster. We also evaluated and tested the data according to the standardized mortality ratio (SMR). Significant increases in both colon cancer and lymphoma among asbestos workers in Israel (1987-1997) were demonstrated by the CUSCORE test but not so by the SMR. The fact that an apparent clustering was observed from the pattern of the q-intervals leads to the conclusion that the detected clusters are real.
Chen
R
R
Department of Epidemiology, Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel. rinachen@netvision.net.il
Froom
P
P
D001194:Asbestos / Q000633:toxicity*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D013029:Space-Time Clustering
D001194:Asbestos