To match or not to match in epidemiological studies--same outcome but less power.
This study aimed to analyze the possible resemblance or difference in outcome in a case-control study of quality of life for IBS patients compared to controls free from the disease, when a matching procedure for age and sex was applied for the control group compared to when all participating subjects were included in the control group. The main result was that almost the same and identical results were found irrespective of whether matching or not matching was applied in this epidemiological case-control study. The matching procedure however, slightly diminished the statistical power of the results.
Faresjö
Tomas
T
Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Community Medicine, Linköping University, SE-58183 Linköping, Sweden. Tomas.Faresjo@liu.se
Faresjö
Ashild
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D055815:Young Adult