Multivariate analysis for matched case-control studies

Abstract

A multivariate method based on the linear logistic model is presented for the analysis of case-control studies with pairwise matching. This technique enables one to investigate the effect of several variables simultaneously in the analysis while allowing for the matched design. The odds ratio is used as the basic measure of risk. One is able to control for variables which are not matching variables while investigating the odds ratio for a particular factor, and to estimate the change in the odds ratio as the level of one or more interval variables changes. The computing methods used for obtaining maximum conditional likelihood estimates of the parameters of interest are modifications of standard programs for logit regression.