Population attributable fraction in textbooks: Time to revise

Ahmad Khosravi; Maryam Nazemipour; Tomohiro Shinozaki; Mohammad Ali Mansournia

Global Epidemiology (Nov 2021)

Population attributable fraction in textbooks: Time to revise

Ahmad Khosravi,
Maryam Nazemipour,
Tomohiro Shinozaki,
Mohammad Ali Mansournia

Affiliations

Ahmad Khosravi: Department of Epidemiology, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran; Ophthalmic Epidemiology Research Center, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
Maryam Nazemipour: Osteoporosis Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Correspondence to: M. Nazemipour, Osteoporosis Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P.O Box: 1411713119, Tehran, Iran.
Tomohiro Shinozaki: Department of Information and Computer Technology, Faculty of Engineering, Tokyo University of Sciences, Tokyo, Japan
Mohammad Ali Mansournia: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Correspondence to: M. A. Mansournia, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, PO Box: 14155-6446, Tehran, Iran.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 3
p. 100062

Abstract

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Introduction: The population attributable fraction is an important measure for assessing the impact of intervention on the disease risk in populations, but it is frequently misused in the research literature. Methods: In this study, we review the definition, calculation, interpretation and assumptions of PAF in 43 textbooks and highlight important shortcomings. Results: While the Levin formula was proposed as a method of calculation in 29 (67%) textbooks, only in 4 (9%) was the Miettinen formula or its generalization for multilevel exposure recommended to calculate a confounding-adjusted population attributable fraction. Other concepts such as generalized impact fraction and prevented and preventable fractions were briefly discussed in few textbooks. Discussion: We recommend the authors revise the textbooks in light of our proposed framework for teaching the population attributable fraction.

Published in Global Epidemiology

ISSN: 2590-1133 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Infectious and parasitic diseases
Website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/global-epidemiology

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