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Estimating the occurrence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis among Gulf War (1990-1991) veterans using capture-recapture methods.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Coffman, CJ; Horner, RD; Grambow, SC; Lindquist, J; VA Cooperative Studies Program Project #500,
Published in: Neuroepidemiology
2005

OBJECTIVE: Using data from a recent report that indicated a 2-fold higher risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) among veterans of the 1991 Gulf War, we applied capture-recapture methodology to estimate possible under-ascertainment of ALS cases among deployed and non-deployed military personnel who were on active duty during that war. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: One of the most serious concerns facing field epidemiological investigations is that of case ascertainment bias, particularly when it is differential among the study groups. Capture-recapture methods, however, have promise as an approach to assessing the impact of case ascertainment bias in such studies. To overcome potential limitations of any one approach, three different estimation methods were used: log-linear models, sample coverage, and ecological models, to obtain a comprehensive view of under-ascertainment bias in these populations. RESULTS: All three approaches indicated differential undercount of ALS cases with modest under-ascertainment likely to have occurred among non-deployed military personnel, but little under-ascertainment among the deployed. After correcting the rates for under-ascertainment, the age-adjusted risk of ALS remained elevated among military personnel who had been deployed to S.W. Asia during the 1991 Gulf War, confirming the earlier report. CONCLUSIONS: Capture-recapture methods are a useful approach to assessing the magnitude of case ascertainment bias in epidemiological studies from which ascertainment-adjusted estimates of rates and relative risks can be calculated.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Neuroepidemiology

DOI

ISSN

0251-5350

Publication Date

2005

Volume

24

Issue

3

Start / End Page

141 / 150

Location

Switzerland

Related Subject Headings

  • Risk Factors
  • Military Personnel
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Gulf War
  • Female
  • Epidemiology
  • Epidemiologic Studies
  • Epidemiologic Methods
 

Citation

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Coffman, C. J., Horner, R. D., Grambow, S. C., Lindquist, J., & VA Cooperative Studies Program Project #500, . (2005). Estimating the occurrence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis among Gulf War (1990-1991) veterans using capture-recapture methods. Neuroepidemiology, 24(3), 141–150. https://doi.org/10.1159/000083297
Coffman, Cynthia J., Ronnie D. Horner, Steven C. Grambow, Jennifer Lindquist, and Jennifer VA Cooperative Studies Program Project #500. “Estimating the occurrence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis among Gulf War (1990-1991) veterans using capture-recapture methods.Neuroepidemiology 24, no. 3 (2005): 141–50. https://doi.org/10.1159/000083297.
Coffman CJ, Horner RD, Grambow SC, Lindquist J, VA Cooperative Studies Program Project #500. Estimating the occurrence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis among Gulf War (1990-1991) veterans using capture-recapture methods. Neuroepidemiology. 2005;24(3):141–50.
Coffman, Cynthia J., et al. “Estimating the occurrence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis among Gulf War (1990-1991) veterans using capture-recapture methods.Neuroepidemiology, vol. 24, no. 3, 2005, pp. 141–50. Pubmed, doi:10.1159/000083297.
Coffman CJ, Horner RD, Grambow SC, Lindquist J, VA Cooperative Studies Program Project #500. Estimating the occurrence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis among Gulf War (1990-1991) veterans using capture-recapture methods. Neuroepidemiology. 2005;24(3):141–150.
Journal cover image

Published In

Neuroepidemiology

DOI

ISSN

0251-5350

Publication Date

2005

Volume

24

Issue

3

Start / End Page

141 / 150

Location

Switzerland

Related Subject Headings

  • Risk Factors
  • Military Personnel
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Gulf War
  • Female
  • Epidemiology
  • Epidemiologic Studies
  • Epidemiologic Methods