Review

What do epidemiologists mean by ‘population mixing’?

  1. Graham R. Law PhD1,
  2. Richard G. Feltbower PhD2,
  3. John C. Taylor MSc3,*,
  4. Roger C. Parslow PhD2,
  5. Mark S. Gilthorpe PhD1,
  6. Paul Boyle PhD4,
  7. Patricia A. McKinney PhD2

Article first published online: 17 APR 2008

DOI: 10.1002/pbc.21570

Issue

Pediatric Blood & Cancer

Pediatric Blood & Cancer

Volume 51, Issue 2, pages 155–160, August 2008

Additional Information

How to Cite

Law, G. R., Feltbower, R. G., Taylor, J. C., Parslow, R. C., Gilthorpe, M. S., Boyle, P. and McKinney, P. A. (2008), What do epidemiologists mean by ‘population mixing’?. Pediatric Blood & Cancer, 51: 155–160. doi: 10.1002/pbc.21570

Author Information

  1. 1

    Biostatistics Unit, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK

  2. 2

    Paediatric Epidemiology Group, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK

  3. 3

    Section of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK

  4. 4

    School of Geography and Geosciences, University of St. Andrews, Fife, UK

*Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, St. James's University Hospital, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 6 JUN 2008
  2. Article first published online: 17 APR 2008
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 13 FEB 2008
  4. Manuscript Received: 4 SEP 2007

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Keywords:

  • census;
  • epidemiology;
  • infections;
  • leukemia;
  • population mixing

Abstract

There is growing evidence that some chronic diseases are caused, or promoted, by infectious disease. ‘Population mixing’ has been used as a proxy for the range and dose of infectious agents circulating in a community. Given the speculation over the role of population mixing in many chronic diseases, we review the various methods used for measuring population mixing, and provide a classification of these. We recommend that authors fulfill two criteria in publications: measures are demonstrably associated with the putative risk factors for which population-mixing is acting as a proxy and fundamental characteristics of the chosen measures are clearly defined. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2008;51:155–160. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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