Directed acyclic graphs in clinical research

European Journal of Endocrinology, vol. 190, pp. E5–E7

Abstract

Directed acyclic graphs (DAGs), or causal diagrams, are graphical representations of causal structures that can be used in medical research to understand and illustrate potential bias, including bias arising from confounding, selection, and misclassification. Further, they provide guidance for researchers about how to address a potential bias.

Authors 3

1. Olaf M. Dekkers corresponding Aachen Department of Clinical Epidemiology Department of Endocrinology, Leiden University Medical Center

   Aarhus University · Leiden University Medical Center · Aarhus University Hospital

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University, Aarhus University Hospital , 8200 Aarhus ,

   Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center , 2300RC Leiden ,

   Department of Endocrinology, Leiden University Medical Center , 2300RC Leiden ,

   Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University, Aarhus University Hospital , 8200 Aarhus , Denmark

   Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center , 2300RC Leiden , The Netherlands

   Department of Endocrinology, Leiden University Medical Center , 2300RC Leiden , The Netherlands

2. Kristina Laugesen

   Aarhus University · Aarhus University Hospital

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aarhus University Hospital , 8200 Aarhus ,

   Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University, Aarhus University Hospital , 8200 Aarhus ,

   Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aarhus University Hospital , 8200 Aarhus , Denmark

   Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University, Aarhus University Hospital , 8200 Aarhus , Denmark

3. Rolf H. H. Groenwold Aachen Department of Biomedical Data Sciences Department of Clinical Epidemiology

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center , 2300RC Leiden ,

   Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center , 2300RC Leiden ,

   Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center , 2300RC Leiden , The Netherlands

   Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center , 2300RC Leiden , The Netherlands