Spatial Epidemiology: Methods and Applications

Abstract

The book contains topics on methodologies and applications of these methods in spatial epidemiology, a branch of study concerned with describing, quantifying and explaining geographical variations in disease distribution. It is divided into 4 parts. The first part is an introduction to spatial epidemiological studies. Data requirements and problems with respect to modelling health events are summarized, including issues of bias and confounding. An overview of the developments in statistical methodology, including Bayesian approaches to disease mapping, cluster detection, analysis of point source exposures, geostatistical methods and methods for ecological correlation studies is contained in the 2nd part. In section 3, examples of disease mapping and clustering studies, involving mortality data, communicable disease data, Hodgkin's disease, diabetes and childhood leukaemias are given. The last part of the book reviews methods of exposure assessment for use in spatial epidemiological studies, and discusses possible links between exposure and health data in risk assessment, and in the effects on human health of traffic-related pollution, water quality and climate change. This book is designed as a resource material for undergraduate and postgraduate courses in epidemiology, medical geography, biostatistics and environmental health and as a source material for health policy makers, health economists, regulators and other professionals in the field of environmental health.