究竟, 什麽是所謂的"risk factor" ?

Risk factors or determinants are correlational and not necessarily causal, because correlation does not prove causation. For example, being young cannot be said to cause measles, but young people have a higher rate of measles because they are less likely to have developed immunity during a previous epidemic. Statistical methods are frequently used to assess the strength of an association and to provide causal evidence (for example in the study of the link between smoking and lung cancer). Statistical analysis along with the biological sciences can establish that risk factors are causal.

Some prefer the term risk factor to mean causal determinants of increased rates of disease, and for unproven links to be called possible risks, associations, etc.

所有跟帖： 

• 說了等於沒說!形而上的東西,沒個標準.英文讀起來怪怪的! -gtcharlie- ♂ (0 bytes) () 12/26/2014 postreply 13:16:28

• 不少人, 包括幾年前的自己, 錯誤地把它與"致病因子"劃等號 -益生菌- ♂ (0 bytes) () 12/27/2014 postreply 09:30:20

• 解釋的有道理。 -happycow222- ♂ (0 bytes) () 12/26/2014 postreply 15:43:21

• 謝謝分享。 -tournier- ♀ (0 bytes) () 12/26/2014 postreply 17:22:24