The Interpretation of "Spurious" Correlations in Coronary Flow Literature

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Abstract
Coefficients of correlation between coronary sinus blood flow and several cardiac variables have been analyzed from data obtained by the nitrous oxide desaturation method in dogs. The r value for flow and left ventricular oxygen consumption is an example of the correlation of two variables having a common element. The high values reported in the literature for this relationship may also be obtained with numbers drawn at random. Accordingly such values should not be accepted as valid evidence of a functional relationship between coronary blood flow and myocardial oxygen consumption. A high positive correlation, between flow and heart rate in the normal dogs and a significant inverse correlation between flow and arteriovenous oxygen difference in the chronic sympathectomized dogs, was observed.

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