Question
This question is based on Lassen et al., Parvovirus B19 infection in pregnancy and subsequent morbidity and mortality in offspring, IJE 2013.
Background: Parvovirus B19 infection in pregnancy has been associated with infant morbidity and mortality in case reports
Methods: in 2010, we established a database of 113,228 children born to women tested for parvovirus B19 infection during pregnancy in a major diagnostic laboratory in Denmark, from 1994 to 2009. Information on 20 selected morbidity diagnoses (e.g. ADHD, leukemia) and on mortality was obtained from national registries. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) were estimated with adjustment for age and sex of the child, maternal age and year of maternal parvovirus B19 test.
Results: A total of 1095 (1.0%) children were born to mothers who were infected with parvovirus B19 during pregnancy. Overall, maternal infection status was not associated with morbidity (IRR 0.93; 95% CI: 0.77 to 1.114), or mortality (IRR 0.98; 95% CI: 0.44 to 2.20).
What specific type of study is this? Please indicate concurrent, non-concurrent, or ambidirectional.
Identify three advantages of this overall design type that specifically relate to this study (1-2 sentences maximum).
How does assessing exposure before disease status relate to bias?
Source: 250B Problem Set
