A population-based cohort study for presence of ulceration among cutaneous malignant melanoma subgroups of patients.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Observational studies suggest that ulceration is considered to be a negative prognostic factor for cutaneous melanoma. However, the impact of ulceration over different subgroups (e.g. AJCC Stage, thickness level) are controversial and its true causal effect on survival is lack of studies in the view of treating ulceration as an exposure.

Objective

To explore the true causal effect of ulceration on melanoma's survival by adopting a combination of methods to discover proper adjustment set and confirming its correctness through a variety of means.

Methods

A minimal sufficient adjustment set (MSAS) was found using directed acyclic graphs (DAG) to adjust the effect of causality. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to diagnose potential confounders in addition to

SUBMITTER: Li X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9666370 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature