New approaches to disease causation research based on the sufficient-component cause model

Abstract

Up to date, the sufficient-component cause model seems to be a theoretical framework for disease causation in epidemiology, and its implications in epidemiological research methods is cur-rently still limited. Recently, pitfalls in current epidemiological research methods were addressed based on the sufficient-compo-nent cause model; hence, new research approaches are needed as alternatives. Therefore, this paper aims to review and suggest new epidemiological methods used to assess disease causation. A new approach was discussed to identify potential mechanisms of disease occurrence which may be useful for risk prediction and disease prevention. In addition, a novel “exposed case-control” design was introduced to identify potential component causes. Furthermore, this paper suggested a new approach of conducting a systematic review/meta-analysis related to causation studies.