Molecular pathological epidemiology gives clues to paradoxical findings.

ABSTRACT: A number of epidemiologic studies have described what appear to be paradoxical associations, where an incongruous relationship is observed between a certain well-established risk factor for disease incidence and favorable clinical outcome among patients with that disease. For example, the "obesity paradox" represents the association between obesity and better survival among patients with a certain disease such as coronary heart disease. Paradoxical observations cause vexing clinical and public health problems as they raise questions on causal relationships and hinder the development of effective interventions. Compelling evidence indicates that pathogenic processes encompass molecular alterations within cells and the microenvironment, influenced by various exogenous and endogenous exposure

SUBMITTER: Nishihara R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4639412 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature