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. 2008;23(3):163-6.
doi: 10.1007/s10654-007-9220-4. Epub 2008 Jan 26.

From causal diagrams to birth weight-specific curves of infant mortality

Sonia Hernández-Díaz  1 , Allen J Wilcox, Enrique F Schisterman, Miguel A Hernán
Affiliations

From causal diagrams to birth weight-specific curves of infant mortality

Sonia Hernández-Díaz et al. Eur J Epidemiol. 2008.

Abstract

This report explores the low birth weight paradox using two graphical approaches: causal directed acyclic graphs (DAGs), and the empirical curves of the birth weight distribution and birth weight-specific mortality. The birth weight curves are able to represent the associations quantitatively, while the corresponding causal DAGs provide a set of plausible explanations for the findings. Taken together, these two approaches can facilitate discussion of underlying biological mechanisms.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Birth weight-specific neonatal mortality (NM) curves and birth weight distribution for smokers and non-smokers
Figs. 2–9
Figs. 2–9
Proposed causal structures (DAGs; directed acyclic graphs) and corresponding birth weight-specific neonatal mortality curves under several hypothetical scenarios
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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