Open AccessMatching, an Appealing Method to Avoid Confounding?
Author(s) -
Michiel A. de Graaf,
Kitty J. Jager,
Carmine Zoccali,
Friedo W. Dekker
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
nephron. clinical practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1660-2110
DOI - 10.1159/000323136
Subject(s) - confounding , medicine , case control study , odds ratio , matching (statistics) , propensity score matching , statistics , pathology , mathematics
Matching is a technique used to avoid confounding in a study design. In a cohort study this is done by ensuring an equal distribution among exposed and unexposed of the variables believed to be confounding. In a matched case-control study, a case, affected by the disease, is matched with one or more individuals not affected by the disease, the controls. Because in a matched case-control study case and control group become too similar not only in the distribution of the confounder but also in the distribution of the exposure, one finds a lower effect estimate (odds ratio closer to 1). A matched case-control study requires statistical analysis to correct for this phenomenon. Nonetheless, a matched case-control study is suitable for confounders that are difficult to measure.