Methodology in the epidemiological research of respiratory diseases and environmental pollution

• Main Authors: Simón Barquera (Author), Favio G Rico-Méndez (Author), Víctor Tovar (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Universidade de São Paulo, 2002-02-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 1518-8787; 10.1590/s0034-89102002000100017
• Keywords: Pesquisa; Poluição ambiental; Doenças respiratórias; Métodos epidemiológicos; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270
• Source: Revista de Saúde Pública, Vol 36, Iss 1, Pp 107-113 (2002)

There are complex and diverse methodological problems involved in the clinical and epidemiological study of respiratory diseases and their etiological factors. The association of urban growth, industrialization and environmental deterioration with respiratory diseases makes it necessary to pay more attention to this research area with a multidisciplinary approach. Appropriate study designs and statistical techniques to analyze and improve our understanding of the pathological events and their causes must be implemented to reduce the growing morbidity and mortality through better preventive actions and health programs. The objective of the article is to review the most common methodological problems in this research area and to present the most available statistical tools used.