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Re: “(Mis)use of Factor Analysis in the Study of Insulin Resistance Syndrome”

Re: “(Mis)use of Factor Analysis in the Study of Insulin Resistance Syndrome” 1182 Letters to the Editor We read with interest the recent Journal commentary by edge, the goal of the more than 20 studies cited by Lawlor Lawlor et al. (1) regarding the utility of factor analysis in et al. has been to understand the underlying correlation struc- understanding the metabolic syndrome (MetS). We agree ture of the interrelated metabolic variables thought to consti- that the results of studies using exploratory factor analysis tute the syndrome. It is the other body of research mentioned should be interpreted with some caution given that it is not, by Lawlor et al., tests of whether MetS variables coexist to strictly speaking, a hypothesis-testing technique and that a greater degree than expected by chance (5–7), that might certain arbitrary decisions are necessarily made in using this provide evidence supporting the existence of a distinctive approach. These issues have been reviewed in detail pre- syndrome. Even these methods can only demonstrate the viously in this journal (2). We also agree that, in analyzing lack of independence among the risk factors and the plausi- the clinical importance of the MetS, it would be of value to bility of a syndrome. In any case, factor analysis is http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png American Journal of Epidemiology Oxford University Press

Re: “(Mis)use of Factor Analysis in the Study of Insulin Resistance Syndrome”

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References (12)

Publisher
Oxford University Press
Copyright
American Journal of Epidemiology Copyright © 2005 by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health All rights reserved
ISSN
0002-9262
eISSN
1476-6256
DOI
10.1093/aje/kwi153
pmid
15937029
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

1182 Letters to the Editor We read with interest the recent Journal commentary by edge, the goal of the more than 20 studies cited by Lawlor Lawlor et al. (1) regarding the utility of factor analysis in et al. has been to understand the underlying correlation struc- understanding the metabolic syndrome (MetS). We agree ture of the interrelated metabolic variables thought to consti- that the results of studies using exploratory factor analysis tute the syndrome. It is the other body of research mentioned should be interpreted with some caution given that it is not, by Lawlor et al., tests of whether MetS variables coexist to strictly speaking, a hypothesis-testing technique and that a greater degree than expected by chance (5–7), that might certain arbitrary decisions are necessarily made in using this provide evidence supporting the existence of a distinctive approach. These issues have been reviewed in detail pre- syndrome. Even these methods can only demonstrate the viously in this journal (2). We also agree that, in analyzing lack of independence among the risk factors and the plausi- the clinical importance of the MetS, it would be of value to bility of a syndrome. In any case, factor analysis is

Journal

American Journal of EpidemiologyOxford University Press

Published: Jun 15, 2005

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