BMJ  2004;329 (16 October), doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7471.0-c

Epidemiological studies may mislead

Analysis and reporting of epidemiological data may be inadequate and misleading. Reviewing 73 studies published in January 2001, Pocock and colleagues (p 883) found that some made exaggerated claims; statistical analysis was not always used appropriately; adjustment for confounders was often poorly explained; and subgroup analyses and multiple associations were overinterpreted. The choice of groupings and analysis for quantitative exposure variables was highly variable, and publication bias occurred. Overall, there is a serious risk that some epidemiological publications reach misleading conclusions, say the authors.

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