title: Response to the comment: Variable selection should be blinded to the outcome.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Salut Global de Barcelona (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Julvez
authors.affiliation: Institut de Salut Global de Barcelona (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Avella-Garcia
authors.affiliation: Institut de Salut Global de Barcelona (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Garcia-Esteban
authors.affiliation: Institut de Salut Global de Barcelona (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Basagaña
authors.affiliation: Institut de Salut Global de Barcelona (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sunyer