Core concepts in pharmacoepidemiology: Fundamentals of the cohort and case-control study designs

Abstract

In this review paper, I outline the principles of the cohort as a sampling frame and provide a basic introduction to the cohort study design and the case-control study design, two of the most important designs in the pharmacoepidemiologist's toolbox. Further, I discuss when to prefer one design over the other. The paper is intended as a primer for people new to the field of pharmacoepidemiology and contains a range of suggestions for additional reading regarding the study designs and related epidemiological topics.

Keywords: case-control study; cohort study; pharmacoepidemiology.