Titre :
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Twin study using mortality data : a new sampling method. (1995)
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Auteurs :
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A.J. GRAHAM ;
C.H. HAWKES ;
Ipswich hosp. Dep clin neurology. Suffolk. GBR
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Type de document :
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Article
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Dans :
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International journal of epidemiology (vol. 24, n° 4, 1995)
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Pagination :
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758-762
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Langues:
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Anglais
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Mots-clés :
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Homme
;
Jumeau
;
Epidémiologie
;
Méthodologie
;
Mortalité
;
Royaume Uni
;
Europe
;
Système nerveux [pathologie]
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Résumé :
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[BDSP. Notice produite par INIST pdX9R0xh. Diffusion soumise à autorisation]. Background. To evaluate the success of a novel approach to twin studies using death discordant twin pairs in a disease of low prevalence. Method. A population study based on all registered deaths at the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys of England and Wales, classified under the ICD code 335.2 (motor neuron disease [MND]) for the period 1979-1989 inclusive. From the above database of 10 872 people, individuals born after 31 December 1899 were traced in the Birth Indices for England & Wales to enable identification of possible twins. In all 131 twin pairs were found and the co-twin details were sent to the National Health Service Central Register (NHS-CR) to enable location of the relevant Family Health Services Authority and thence the co-twin's general practitioner (GP). A letter requesting access was sent to the family practitioners. If given, the co-twin can be approached and interviewed. Results. The search produced : 54 living co-twins ; 31 who died as adults ; 29 infant deaths ; 5 emigrated ; 3 incorrectly diagnosed index twins ; and 9 untraceable co-twins. Among the adult deaths two concordant pairs were identified. Conclusion. This new twin study method is clearly viable, and has produced a large unbiased sample compared to that possible using traditional methods. It relies heavily on the accuracy of death certificates and zygosity reporting by living co-twins, but is possibly the only way of collecting twins in rare conditions.
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