Spatial disease clusters: Detection and inference
- 30 April 1995
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wiley in Statistics in Medicine
- Vol. 14 (8) , 799-810
- https://doi.org/10.1002/sim.4780140809
Abstract
We present a new method of detection and inference for spatial clusters of a disease. To avoidad hocprocedures to test for clustering, we have a clearly defined alternative hypothesis and our test statistic is based on the likelihood ratio. The proposed test can detect clusters of any size, located anywhere in the study region. It is not restricted to clusters that conform to predefined administrative or political borders. The test can be used for spatially aggregated data as well as when exact geographic co‐ordinates are known for each individual. We illustrate the method on a data set describing the occurrence of leukaemia in Upstate New York.Keywords
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