Simple formulas for gauging the potential impacts of population stratification bias.
The case-control study design is popular for genetic association studies of complex human diseases. However, case-control studies may suffer from bias due to population stratification. In this paper, the authors present simple formulas that can set a limit to the havoc population stratification bias can wreak (the lower and upper bounds of the confounding rate ratio and the upper bound of the type I error rate). The authors demonstrate applications of these formulas using two examples. The formulas can help researchers make more prudent interpretations of their (potentially biased) results.
Lee
Wen-Chung
WC
Research Center for Genes, Environment and Human Health and the Graduate Institute of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. wenchung@ntu.edu.tw
Wang
Liang-Yi
LY
D015982:Bias; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005828:Genetics, Population; D006801:Humans; D015233:Models, Statistical; D016017:Odds Ratio