Fabrizio D'Ovidio1, James P K Rooney2, Anne E Visser3, Roel C H Vermeulen4, Jan H Veldink3, Leonard H Van Den Berg3, Orla Hardiman2, Giancarlo Logroscino5, Adriano Chiò1, Ettore Beghi6. 1. a "Rita Levi Montalcini" Department of Neurosciences , University of Turin , Turin , Italy. 2. b Academic Unit of Neurology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin , Dublin , Ireland. 3. c Department of Neurology , Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht , The Netherlands. 4. d Division of Environmental Epidemiology , Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University , Utrecht , The Netherlands. 5. e Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs , University of Bari "Aldo Moro" , Bari , Italy , and. 6. f Neurological Diseases Laboratory, Department of Neurosciences , IRCCS Mario Negri , Milano , Italy.
Abstract
Backround: Political and sociocultural differences between countries can affect the outcome of clinical and epidemiological studies in ALS. Cross-national studies represent the ideal process by which risk factors can be assessed using the same methodology in different geographical areas. METHODS: A survey of three European countries (The Netherlands, Ireland and Italy) has been conducted in which incident ALS patients and matched controls were recruited in a population-based study based on age, gender and area of residency, under the Euro-MOTOR systems biology programme of research. FINDINGS: We have identified strengths and limitations during the trajectory of the Euro-MOTOR study, from the research design to data analysis. We have analysed the implications of factors including cross-national differences in healthcare systems, sample size, types of matching, the definition of exposures and statistical analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Addressing critical methodological aspects of the design of the Euro-MOTOR project minimises bias and will facilitate scientific assessment of the independent role of well-defined exposures.
Backround: Political and sociocultural differences between countries can affect the outcome of clinical and epidemiological studies in ALS. Cross-national studies represent the ideal process by which risk factors can be assessed using the same methodology in different geographical areas. METHODS: A survey of three European countries (The Netherlands, Ireland and Italy) has been conducted in which incident ALSpatients and matched controls were recruited in a population-based study based on age, gender and area of residency, under the Euro-MOTOR systems biology programme of research. FINDINGS: We have identified strengths and limitations during the trajectory of the Euro-MOTOR study, from the research design to data analysis. We have analysed the implications of factors including cross-national differences in healthcare systems, sample size, types of matching, the definition of exposures and statistical analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Addressing critical methodological aspects of the design of the Euro-MOTOR project minimises bias and will facilitate scientific assessment of the independent role of well-defined exposures.
Authors: James P K Rooney; Bernhard Michalke; Gráinne Geoghegan; Mark Heverin; Stephan Bose-O'Reilly; Orla Hardiman; Stefan Rakete Journal: Environ Sci Pollut Res Int Date: 2022-06-02 Impact factor: 5.190