Article ; Online: Loss to 5-year follow-up in the population-based Telemark Study
BMJ Open, Vol 13, Iss
risk factors and potential for bias
2023 Volume 3
Abstract: Objectives This study aimed to characterise participants lost to follow-up and identify possible factors associated with non-participation in a prospective population-based study of respiratory health in Norway. We also aimed to analyse the impact of ... ...
Abstract | Objectives This study aimed to characterise participants lost to follow-up and identify possible factors associated with non-participation in a prospective population-based study of respiratory health in Norway. We also aimed to analyse the impact of potentially biased risk estimates associated with a high proportion of non-responders.Design Prospective 5-year follow-up study.Setting Randomly selected inhabitants from the general population of Telemark County in south-eastern Norway were invited to fill in a postal questionnaire in 2013. Responders in 2013 were followed-up in 2018.Participants 16 099 participants aged 16–50 years completed the baseline study. 7958 responded at the 5-year follow-up, while 7723 did not.Main outcome measures χ2 test was performed to compare demographic and respiratory health-related characteristics between those who participated in 2018 and those who were lost to follow-up. Adjusted multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the relationship between loss to follow-up, background variables, respiratory symptoms, occupational exposure and interactions, and to analyse whether loss to follow-up leads to biased risk estimates.Results 7723 (49%) participants were lost to follow-up. Loss to follow-up was significantly higher for male participants, those in the youngest age group (16–30 years), those in lowest education level category and among current smokers (all p<0.001). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, loss to follow-up was significantly associated with unemployment (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.22 to 1.46), reduced work ability (1.48, 1.35 to 1.60), asthma (1.22, 1.10 to 1.35), being woken by chest tightness (1.22, 1.11 to 1.34) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (1.81, 1.30 to 2.52). Participants with more respiratory symptoms and exposure to vapour, gas, dust and fumes (VGDF) (1.07 to 1.00–1.15), low-molecular weight (LMW) agents (1.19, 1.00 to 1.41) and irritating agents (1.15, 1.05 to 1.26) were more likely to be lost to follow-up. We found no ... |
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Keywords | Medicine ; R |
Subject code | 150 |
Language | English |
Publishing date | 2023-03-01T00:00:00Z |
Publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
Document type | Article ; Online |
Database | BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection) |
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