Case Study: 1974 Paper--Reserpine and Breast Cancer

Question 1

Study Population

Answer 1

Hospitalized patients from 24 Boston area hospitals (n = 25 thousand admitted to general medical and surgical wards)

Question 2

Study Population (Exclusion)

Answer 2

Those admitted in last 3 months, too ill, in hospital

Question 3

Study Design

Answer 3

Case-Control

Question 4

Exposure assessment

Answer 4

Patient Interview shortly after admission: asked about medications in 3months for 26 indications

Question 5

Outcome assessment

Answer 5

From hospital discharge records

Question 6

Sample size

Answer 6

150 cases, 1200 controls

Question 7

Cases

Answer 7

Medical/surgical patients with discharge of incident BC, REMEMBERED names of AHDs

Question 8

Controls

Answer 8

4 medical/4surgical patients per case, matched by decade of age &hospital. No 1st discharge diagnosis of any cancer or for medical patients, CVD and finally, remembered names of AHDs

Question 9

Association

Answer 9

Yes, RR = 3.5 (1.6, 8.0)

Question 10

Potential Biases

Answer 10

Confounding? Selection? Chance may be most likely

Question 11

What control sampling method was used in both 1974 and 1984 paper?

Answer 11

Cumulative incidence sampling