Hello,
In a study, having the outcome before age 55 defined cases & controls were at least 78 and never had the outcome; no other matching occured. Several exposure variables of interest may be age-related (eg cataract). It is of interest to determine the odds ratio (OR) of each exposure variable to the outcome.
Are age-adjustments in this situation redundant; circular; over adjustment on the outcome? If no adjustments for age are made and the exposure is very control-heavy (i.e. age-related), how is a higher odds ratio interpreted (assuming the exposed is top row and cases are 1st column in 2x2)?
What other issues have I not thought of?
(I understand there may issues in the defintion of cases/controls, a secondary concern of mine, but sample size issues drove the defintion & hopefully this won't become the main focus of this thread.)
Kind regards,
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Emmeline Sangeorzan
Biostatistician
Arthritis Research Institute of America
Clearwater, FL
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