Recent Development in Epidemiologic Theories and Biostatistics

Abstract

In this paper, I will review recent development in epidemiologic theories. It is emphasized that case-control studies are considered to be based on a underlying hypothesized cohort. Thus, various control selection options have been developed as the selection from the population at risk in that hypothesized cohort. As an example of the use of new epidemiologic designs, a case-control study of infant asthma is illustrated. It is a part of the SORA (Study on Respiratory Disease and Automobile Exhaust) project which is a complex of epidemiologic studies for infants, school children, and adults conducted by the Ministry of the Environment. In that study, a two-stage case-control design which is efficient both for rare exposure and rare disease is adopted.