Spatial Analysis of Disease

Abstract
Cancer rate comparisons around the world suggest clear geographic differences that have only recently been appreciated and evaluated by statistical methods. The goal of this chapter is to briefly review the progression of the spatial analysis of disease from simple dot maps and crude rate comparisons to the complex hierarchical spatial models used today. After providing a historical background and necessary epidemiologic fundamentals, we summarize available methods for the exploration, hypothesis testing, and modeling of spatial data. Although the focus here is on methods appropriate for cancer research, other related methods will be mentioned.

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