Consider each of the following scenarios and state whether or
not the variable in question is a confounder, and why.
- A study of the risk of pulmonary hypertension among women who
take diet drugs to lose weight. The crude relative risk of
pulmonary hypertension comparing diet drug users to non-users is
17.0 and the age adjusted relative risk is 5.0. Is age a confounder
in this study?
- A cohort study of liver cancer among alcoholics. Incidence
rates of liver cancer among alcoholic men are compared to a group
of non-alcoholic men. Is gender a confounder in this study?
- A case-control study of the risk of beer consumption and oral
cancer among men. In this study, cigarette smoking is associated
with beer consumption and is a risk factor for oral cancer among
both beer drinkers and nondrinkers. Is cigarette smoking a
confounder in this study?