Time-varying associations between an exposure history and a subsequent health outcome: a landmark approach to identify critical windows.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Long-term behavioral and health risk factors constitute a primary focus of research on the etiology of chronic diseases. Yet, identifying critical time-windows during which risk factors have the strongest impact on disease risk is challenging. To assess the trajectory of association of an exposure history with an outcome, the weighted cumulative exposure index (WCIE) has been proposed, with weights reflecting the relative importance of exposures at different times. However, WCIE is restricted to a complete observed error-free exposure whereas exposures are often measured with intermittent missingness and error. Moreover, it rarely explores exposure history that is very distant from the outcome as usually sought in life-course epidemiology.

Methods

We extend the WC

SUBMITTER: Wagner M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8627635 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature