The effect of correlated measurement error in multivariate models of diet.
Self-reported diet is prone to measurement error. Analytical models of diet may include several foods or nutrients to avoid confounding. Such multivariate models of diet may be affected by errors correlated among the dietary covariates, which may introduce bias of unpredictable direction and magnitude. The authors used 1993-1998 data from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition in Norfolk, United Kingdom, to explore univariate and multivariate regression models relating nutrient intake estimated from a 7-day diet record or a food frequency questionnaire to plasma levels of vitamin C. The purpose was to provide an empirical examination of the effect of two different multivariate error structures in the assessment of dietary intake on multivariate regression models, in a situation where the underlying relation between the independent and dependent variables is approximately known. Emphasis was put on the control for confounding and the effect of different methods of controlling for estimated energy intake. The results for standard multivariate regression models were consistent with considerable correlated error, introducing spurious associations between some nutrients and the dependent variable and leading to instability of the parameter estimates if energy was included in the model. Energy adjustment using regression residuals or energy density models led to improved parameter stability.
Michels
Karin B
KB
Obstetrics and Gynecology Epidemiology Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. kmichels@rics.bwh.harvard.edu
Bingham
Sheila A
SA
Luben
Robert
R
Welch
Ailsa A
AA
Day
Nicholas E
NE
D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D004032:Diet; D004034:Diet Surveys; D002149:Energy Intake; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D006113:United Kingdom
D001205:Ascorbic Acid