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From: doug@terak.UUCP (Doug Pardee)
Newsgroups: net.med
Subject: Re: Risk factors
Message-ID: <796@terak.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 14-Oct-85 14:47:05 EDT
Article-I.D.: terak.796
Posted: Mon Oct 14 14:47:05 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 16-Oct-85 15:30:57 EDT
References: <1939@aecom.UUCP>
Distribution: na
Organization: Calcomp Display Products Division, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
Lines: 25

> 	Two other important factors are age and sex, but obviously these can't
> be altered.

Which brings up a universally overlooked point when "risk factors" are
quoted...

--  Does altering the risk factor have any effect?

For example, both "male pattern baldness" and hemophilia have "male sex"
as major risk factors.  A male-to-female sex change operation will
prevent male pattern baldness but not hemophilia.

Determining that "attribute X" and "ailment Y" have some positive or
negative correlation is indeed an important finding.

But that should be followed up by studies to determine if "intentionally
removing attribute X" will change the incidence of "ailment Y".

Likewise, there should be further studies to determine if "intentionally
introducing attribute X" will change the incidence of "ailment Y".
--
        ...a new study indicates that breathing has been implicated
        as a risk factor in a number of respiratory ailments...
-- 
Doug Pardee -- CalComp -- {calcom1,savax,seismo,decvax,ihnp4}!terak!doug