Multicollinearity in Regression Analyses Conducted in Epidemiologic Studies.
The adverse impact of ignoring multicollinearity on findings and data interpretation in regression analysis is very well documented in the statistical literature. The failure to identify and report multicollinearity could result in misleading interpretations of the results. A review of epidemiological literature in PubMed from January 2004 to December 2013, illustrated the need for a greater attention to identifying and minimizing the effect of multicollinearity in analysis of data from epidemiologic studies. We used simulated datasets and real life data from the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort to demonstrate the adverse effects of multicollinearity in the regression analysis and encourage researchers to consider the diagnostic for multicollinearity as one of the steps in regression analysis.
Division of Epidemiology, University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston, School of Public Health, Brownsville Campus, Brownsville, TX.
Kristina P
KP
Vatcheva
Division of Clinical and Translational Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical School, Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) Core, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX.
MinJae
M
Lee
Division of Epidemiology, University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston, School of Public Health, Brownsville Campus, Brownsville, TX.
Joseph B
JB
McCormick
Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas School of Public Health, Division of Clinical and Translational Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, and Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX.
Mohammad H
MH
Rahbar
BMI; Multicollinearity; Regression analysis; Simulation; Waist circumference