Issues with incorrect computing of population attributable fraction (PAF) in a global perspective on coal-fired power plants and burden of lung cancer

Abstract

Abstract All observational studies are liable to confounding and Levin’s formula becomes useless in practice for unbiasedly estimating PAF. With respect to causal interpretation of PAF in public health setting, unbiased estimation of PAF requires several assumptions which are ignored in practice. We recommend using Miettinen PAF formula with careful consideration about possibility of bias in study design and analysis.

Keywords

• Population attributable fraction
• Confounding, ecological study