Understanding statistical association and correlation

Background/Objective: Some case series and case report have shown the association between the risk of acute pancreatitis and use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. The results of systematic studies were not consistent. Methods: A meta-analysis was performed to investigate the risk of acute pancreatitis associated with use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Results: There was no statistical association between the risk of acute pancreatitis and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors use (odds ratio: 1.19, 95% confidence interval: 0.93-1.51). Conclusions: Despite reaching no statistical significance, the possibility of the association between the risk of acute pancreatitis and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors use cannot be totally excluded.

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Constructing a summary index using the standardized inverse-covariance weighted average of indicators

The Stata Journal Promoting communications on statistics and Stata ◽

10.1177/1536867x20976325 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (4) ◽

pp. 952-964

Author(s):

Benjamin Schwab ◽

Sarah Janzen ◽

Nicholas P. Magnan ◽

William M. Thompson

Keyword(s):

Least Squares Method ◽

Weighted Average ◽

Generalized Least Squares ◽

American Statistical Association ◽

Cash Transfer ◽

Transfer Program ◽

Statistical Association ◽

Generalized Least Squares Method ◽

Summary Index ◽

The Relationship

Researchers often want to examine the relationship between a variable of interest and multiple related outcomes. To avoid problems of inference that arise from testing multiple hypotheses, one can create a summary index of the outcomes. Summary indices facilitate generalizing findings and can be more powerful than individual tests. In this article, we introduce a command, swindex, that implements the generalized least-squares method of index construction proposed by Anderson (2008, Journal of the American Statistical Association 103: 1481–1495). We describe the command and its options and provide an example based on Blattman, Fiala, and Martinez’s (2014, Quarterly Journal of Economics 129: 697–752) evaluation of a cash transfer program in Uganda.

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Prevalence of Linguatula sp., a food-borne zoonotic aberrant arthropod, in river buffaloes slaughtered at Tabriz slaughterhouse, Iran

Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene ◽

10.1093/trstmh/traa122 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Nasser Hajipour ◽

Jennifer Ketzis ◽

Parviz Hassanzadeh

Keyword(s):

Infection Rate ◽

Statistical Association ◽

Intermediate Hosts ◽

Mesenteric Lymph Nodes ◽

Intensity Of Infection ◽

Mesenteric Lymph ◽

Food Borne ◽

Different Seasons ◽

Significant Statistical Association ◽

Age And Sex

Abstract Background Canids and herbivores are the definitive and intermediate hosts of Linguatula sp., respectively. Methods Mesenteric lymph nodes (n=32 525) were randomly collected from 7585 buffaloes from July 2016 to July 2019 and examined macroscopically. Results Results showed that 388 (5.11%) buffaloes were infected. The intensity of infection was determined to be 3.07±0.07. Significant statistical association was identified between infection rate and age and sex. Although there were no significant differences in the infection rate over different seasons, the highest infection rate was observed in autumn. Conclusions These data highlight the importance of inspection at slaughter.

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Characteristics of Indoor Flood Fatalities: Evidence from Greece

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13158612 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (15) ◽

pp. 8612

Author(s):

Michalis Diakakis ◽

Katerina Papagiannaki

Keyword(s):

Building Material ◽

Human Life ◽

Older Individuals ◽

Statistical Association ◽

Flood Events ◽

Building Collapse ◽

Factors Influencing ◽

Flooding Events ◽

Practical Implications ◽

Significant Statistical Association

Despite the important advances in flood forecasting and protection, floods remain one of the most lethal types of natural hazards. Previous works have explored several factors influencing the risks of flooding to human life and health. However, there is limited research and understanding on indoor flood fatalities and the circumstances under which they occur. This study explores victim-, building-, and situation-related characteristics in order to provide a better understanding of the conditions that lead to flood-related indoor deaths, exploiting a fatality database developed for Greece (1960–2020). The correlation analysis showed that indoor victims, compared with outdoor ones, tend to be older individuals, with high percentages of disabilities. A significant statistical association of the building material, roof type, and distance from the river with the building collapse was also found. The profile of the buildings in which flood fatality occurred was further compared with that of neighboring non-fatal buildings that were inhabited during the flood events. The statistical results indicated that the buildings with a fatality occurrence are mostly single-storey structures, made from masonry as the main building material. The findings have practical implications in risk communication and mitigation in terms of identifying the specific populations, circumstances, settings, and mechanisms that lead to dangerous indoor situations during flooding events.

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Prevalence of Hand Malformations in Patients With Moebius Syndrome and Their Management

Hand ◽

10.1177/1558944721994265 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 155894472199426

Author(s):

Jose E. Telich-Tarriba ◽

David F. Navarro-Barquin ◽

Karol Verdezoto-Gaibor ◽

Alexander Cardenas-Mejia

Keyword(s):

Upper Extremity ◽

Treatment Strategies ◽

Abducens Nerve ◽

Poland Syndrome ◽

Statistical Association ◽

Moebius Syndrome ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Reconstructive Procedures ◽

Nerve Paralysis ◽

Wide Range

Background: Moebius syndrome is a disorder characterized by facial and abducens nerve paralysis. Patients can present a wide range of upper extremity malformations. Literature focused on orthopedic manifestations of Moebius syndrome shows variability in the prevalence and clinical presentation of upper extremity anomalies. The aim of this work is to evaluate the prevalence of upper extremity malformations in patients with Moebius syndrome, clarify its various clinical presentations, and present treatment strategies for their management. Methods: This is a retrospective, cross-sectional study including patients with Moebius syndrome and upper extremity malformations between 2012 and 2019. Data include demographic characteristics, Moebius syndrome subtype, type of malformation, affected extremity, and surgical procedures underwent. Quantitative data were recorded as mean (standard deviation [SD]), and qualitative data were expressed in terms of totals and percentages. Statistical association between Moebius syndrome subtype and development of upper extremity anomalies was evaluated using binary logistic regression. Results: Twenty-five out of 153 patients (16.3%) presented upper extremity malformations (48% male). Mean age of presentation was 9.08 ± 9.43 years. Sixty-eight percent of the malformations were unilateral. The most common presentations included Poland syndrome and simple syndactyly with 8 cases each (32%), followed by 5 cases of brachysyndactyly (20%), 3 cases of amniotic band syndrome (12%), and 1 case of cleft hand (4%). No statistical association was found between Moebius syndrome subtype and odds ratio for development of upper extremity anomalies. Thirteen patients (52%) underwent reconstructive procedures. Conclusion: Poland syndrome and syndactyly are the most common anomalies in patients with Moebius syndrome. Patients may present with a wide range of hand malformations, each patient should be carefully evaluated in order to determine whether surgical treatment is needed and to optimize rehabilitation protocols.

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