title: [Eco-epidemiology: towards epidemiology of complexity].
abstract: In order to solve public health problems posed by the epidemiology of risk factors centered on the individual and neglecting the causal processes linking the risk factors with the health outcomes, Mervyn Susser proposed a multilevel epidemiology called eco-epidemiology, addressing the interdependence of individuals and their connection with molecular, individual, societal, environmental levels of organization participating in the causal disease processes. The aim of this epidemiology is to integrate more than a level of organization in design, analysis and interpretation of health problems. After presenting the main criticisms of risk-factor epidemiology focused on the individual, we will try to show how eco-epidemiology and its development could help to understand the need for a broader and integrative epidemiology, in which studies designed to identify risk factors would be balanced by studies designed to answer other questions equally vital to public health.
authors.affiliation: Service d'anesthésie-réanimation, hôpital Laënnec, boulevard Jacques Monod, 44093 Nantes Cedex 1, France - Université Paris Diderot, CNRS, laboratoire SPHERE, bâtiment Condorcet, case 7093, 5, rue Thomas Mann, 75205 Paris Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bizouarn
mesh_terms: D017753:Ecosystem; D004777:Environment; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D015340:Epidemiologic Research Design; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D004813:Epidemiology / Q000266:history / Q000639:trends*; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D011634:Public Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D012931:Social Environment