title: A new estimation approach for combining epidemiological data from multiple sources.
abstract: We propose a novel two-step procedure to combine epidemiological data obtained from diverse sources with the aim to quantify risk factors affecting the probability that an individual develops certain disease such as cancer. In the first step we derive all possible unbiased estimating functions based on a group of cases and a group of controls each time. In the second step, we combine these estimating functions efficiently in order to make full use of the information contained in data. Our approach is computationally simple and flexible. We illustrate its efficacy through simulation and apply it to investigate pancreatic cancer risks based on data obtained from the Connecticut Tumor Registry, a population-based case-control study, and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System which is a state-based system of health surveys.
authors.affiliation: Department of Management Science, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33124.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06520.
authors.forename: Xiaomei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematical Sciences, Aalborg University, Fredrik Bajersvej 7G, DK-9220 Aalborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Rasmus
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Waagepetersen
authors.affiliation: Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06520.
authors.forename: Theodore R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Holford
authors.affiliation: Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06520.
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06520.
authors.forename: Harvey
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Risch
authors.affiliation: Connecticut Department of Public Health, 410 Capitol Avenue, MS# 11HCQ, Hartford, CT 06134.
authors.forename: Lloyd
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.affiliation: Department of Management Science, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33124.
authors.forename: Yongtao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guan
keywords: Spatial epidemiology; estimating equation; spatial point process