Statistical Approaches for Estimating Sex-Specific Effects in Endocrine Disruptors Research.

ABSTRACT:

Background

When a biologic mechanism of interest is anticipated to operate differentially according to sex, as is often the case in endocrine disruptors research, investigators routinely estimate sex-specific associations. Less attention has been given to potential sexual heterogeneity of confounder associations with outcomes. When relationships of covariates with outcomes differ according to sex, commonly applied statistical approaches for estimating sex-specific endocrine disruptor effects may produce divergent estimates.

Objectives

We discuss underlying assumptions and evaluate the performance of two traditional approaches for estimating sex-specific effects, stratification and product terms, and introduce a simple modeling alternative: an augmented product term approach.

SUBMITTER: Buckley JP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5743445 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature