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What does "differential follow-up" mean?
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Its a means of bias in a study.
If youre looking for a particular disease or pathology you are more likely to find it in a certain group. (ie: heart disease in diabetic patients) Therefore, your odds risk ratio will be skewed because you are less likely to look for heart disease in non-diabetic patients (and MORE likely to look for heart disease in diabetic patients).
This type of bias is often seen in very large cohort type studies where information is gathered from medical charts rather than a physical exam on every patient in the study. Youre relying on the non-bias of physicians in the real world, which doesnt happen. Youre taking prior diagnoses and making them a statistic rather than examining the patients for yourself.
Im not a statistician so thats the best way I can explain it.
If youre looking for a particular disease or pathology you are more likely to find it in a certain group. (ie: heart disease in diabetic patients) Therefore, your odds risk ratio will be skewed because you are less likely to look for heart disease in non-diabetic patients (and MORE likely to look for heart disease in diabetic patients).
This type of bias is often seen in very large cohort type studies where information is gathered from medical charts rather than a physical exam on every patient in the study. Youre relying on the non-bias of physicians in the real world, which doesnt happen. Youre taking prior diagnoses and making them a statistic rather than examining the patients for yourself.
Im not a statistician so thats the best way I can explain it.
