THE EFFECT OF REGRESSION TO THE MEAN IN EPIDEMIOLOGIC AND CLINICAL STUDIES

1 November 1976

journal article
research article
Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in American Journal of Epidemiology

Vol. 104 (5) , 493-498
https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a112321

Abstract

The ways in which regression to the mean can affect the measurement of treatment effects in clinical and epidemiologic studies are noted. Regression can have a sizeable effect and may lead to erroneous conclusions concerning treatment effects. The procedures outlined here should be useful in taking regression into account at the planning stage and at the time of analysis.

Keywords

MEAN AVERAGE