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Several factors influenced attrition in a population-based elderly cohort: neurological disorders in Central Spain Study
Vega S, Benito-León J, Bermejo-Pareja F, Medrano MJ, Vega-Valderrama LM, Rodríguez C, Louis ED.. Journal of clinical epidemiology, 2009-05-26
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Objective We studied attrition (i.e., participant dropout) 3 years after the baseline interview in a population-based Spanish cohort. Study design and setting The Neurological Disorders in Central Spain study is a longitudinal, population-based survey of chronic neurologic conditions in persons aged > or = 65 years. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to examine baseline differences between participants who took part in the 3-year follow-up evaluation vs. those who did not. Results Of the 5,278 participants evaluated at baseline (1994-1995), 1,482 (28.1%) were lost to the follow-up (1997-1998). Factors that were associated with dropout due to refusal were as follows: living in a rural area and being single. Contact failure was associated with older age and being unmarried and widowed. Unreachable participants were less likely to take three or more medications or live in a professional neighborhood. Predictors of dropout due to death were male gender, older age, having impaired activities of daily living, taking more medications, poor self-perceived health, dementia, and smoking. Conclusions These findings on participants who are at high risk of dropout may be useful in the planning phase of future prospective studies. Of the possible reasons for attrition, refusal is the most important because it is amenable to change.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Vega, S., Benito-León, J., Bermejo-Pareja, F., Medrano, M. J., Vega-Valderrama, L. M., Rodríguez, C., et al. (2010). Several factors influenced attrition in a population-based elderly cohort: neurological disorders in Central Spain Study. Journal of clinical epidemiology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2009.03.005
Vancouver
Vega S, Benito-León J, Bermejo-Pareja F, Medrano MJ, Vega-Valderrama LM, Rodríguez C, et al. Several factors influenced attrition in a population-based elderly cohort: neurological disorders in Central Spain Study. Journal of clinical epidemiology. 2010. doi:10.1016/j.jclinepi.2009.03.005. PMID: 19473811.
BibTeX
@article{vega2010-19473811,
author = {Vega, S. and Benito-León, J. and Bermejo-Pareja, F. and Medrano, M. J. and Vega-Valderrama, L. M. and Rodríguez, C. and Louis, E. D.},
title = {{Several factors influenced attrition in a population-based elderly cohort: neurological disorders in Central Spain Study}},
journal = {Journal of clinical epidemiology},
year = {2010},
doi = {10.1016/j.jclinepi.2009.03.005},
pmid = {19473811},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2009.03.005}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 7 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Results Of the 5,278 participants evaluated at baseline (1994-1995), 1,482 (28.1%) were lost to the follow-up (1997-1998).
- Factors that were associated with dropout due to refusal were as follows: living in a rural area and being single.
- Contact failure was associated with older age and being unmarried and widowed.
- Conclusions These findings on participants who are at high risk of dropout may be useful in the planning phase of future prospective studies.
Why it matters
This study examined which participants dropped out of a population-based elderly cohort, finding that dementia predicted dropout due to death. It is about study attrition and does not test any treatment, cure, or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Study designlongitudinal study
- Participants5,278
- Effect size28.1%
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 62/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a longitudinal study following the same people over time. Scored zero for randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of clinical epidemiology) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Journal of Clinical Epidemiology: journal h-index 339 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A longitudinal study following the same people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2010 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 5,278 participants |
| Effect reported | 2 / 3 | Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 90 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 5.0 citations a year over 18 year(s) since 2010 |
| Impact for its field and year | 5 / 6 | Cited 21.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 3 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 9 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Elan D. Louis: h-index 58 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Columbia University: institution h-index 1,824 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 7 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 19473811) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 62 / 100 | — |
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