Kohortarrannsókn

Kohortarrannsókn is a type of longitudinal observational study that follows a group of individuals, known as a cohort, over a period of time to investigate the relationship between certain exposures and health outcomes. Cohorts are defined based on shared characteristics or exposures, such as individuals born in the same year or those who have been exposed to a specific environmental factor.

The primary goal of a kohortarrannsókn is to identify risk factors for diseases or other health conditions. Researchers identify a group of individuals who are initially free of the outcome of interest. They then collect data on potential exposures within this group. Over time, they track the participants to see who develops the outcome. By comparing the incidence of the outcome in those with and without the exposure, researchers can determine if the exposure is associated with an increased or decreased risk.

Kohortarrannsóknir can be prospective, where participants are enrolled and followed into the future, or retrospective, where historical records are used to reconstruct past exposures and outcomes. These studies are valuable for establishing temporal relationships between exposure and outcome, meaning the exposure precedes the disease. However, they can be time-consuming and expensive, and are susceptible to confounding factors if not carefully designed and analyzed. Bias, such as recall bias in retrospective studies or loss to follow-up in prospective studies, can also affect the results. Despite these challenges, kohortarrannsóknir are a powerful tool in epidemiological research for understanding disease etiology and informing public health interventions.