--- title: "Revisit table 2 fallacy-preeclampsia and preterm birth | Sutter Health" description: "Reporting multiple effect estimates from a single model may lead to misinterpretation and lack of reproducibility." url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/revisit-table-2-fallacy-preeclampsia-and-preterm-birth-1055312379" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Research](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research) / 3. [Research publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications) / 4. Revisit table 2 fallacy-preeclampsia and preterm birth # Revisiting the Table 2 fallacy: A motivating example examining preeclampsia and preterm birth. Bandoli G, Palmsten K, Chambers CD, Jelliffe-Pawlowski LL, Baer RJ, & Thompson CA. _Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. doi: 10.1111/ppe.12474. \[Epub ahead of print\]_ 2018-05-21 ## Abstract BACKGROUND: A "Table Fallacy," as coined by Westreich and Greenland, reports multiple adjusted effect estimates from a single model. This practice, which remains common in published literature, can be problematic when different types of effect estimates are presented together in a single table. The purpose of this paper is to quantitatively illustrate this potential for misinterpretation with an example estimating the effects of preeclampsia on preterm birth. METHODS: We analyzed a retrospective population-based cohort of 2 963 888 singleton births in California between 2007 and 2012. We performed a modified Poisson regression to calculate the total effect of preeclampsia on the risk of PTB, adjusting for previous preterm birth. pregnancy alcohol abuse, maternal education, and maternal socio-demographic factors (Model 1). In subsequent models, we report the total effects of previous preterm birth, alcohol abuse, and education on the risk of PTB, comparing and contrasting the controlled direct effects, total effects, and confounded effect estimates, resulting from Model 1. RESULTS: The effect estimate for previous preterm birth (a controlled direct effect in Model 1) increased 10% when estimated as a total effect. The risk ratio for alcohol abuse, biased due to an uncontrolled confounder in Model 1, was reduced by 23% when adjusted for drug abuse. The risk ratio for maternal education, solely a predictor of the outcome, was essentially unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: Reporting multiple effect estimates from a single model may lead to misinterpretation and lack of reproducibility. This example highlights the need for careful consideration of the types of effects estimated in statistical models. [PubMed abstract](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29782045) ## Research topics - [Biostatistics](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Biostatistics%5C%22%22) - [Maternal and Infant Health](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Maternal+and+Infant+Health%5C%22%22) - [Obstetrics and Gynecology](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Obstetrics+and+Gynecology%5C%22%22) ## Related publications [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) - Publication ### [Impact of frozen-thawed single-blastocyst transfer on maternal and neonatal outcome: an analysis of 277,042 single-embryo transfer cycles from 2008 to 2010 in Japan.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/one-blastocyst-transfer-matern-infant-outcome-1055312440) Ishihara O, Araki R, Kuwahara A, Itakura A, Saito H, Adamson GD. Fertil Steril. 101(1):128-33. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2013.09.025. Epub 2013 Oct 23. 2014 Jan 01 - Publication ### [International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technology: world report on assisted reproductive technology, 2011.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/world-report-on-assisted-reproductive-technology-2011-1055312366) Adamson GD, de Mouzon J, Chambers GM, Zegers-Hochschild F, Mansour R, Ishihara O, Banker M, Dyer S. Fertil Steril. 110(6):1067-1080. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2018.06.039. 2018 Nov 01 - Publication ### [Performance Characteristics of Sepsis Screening Tools During Delivery Admissions](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/performance-of-sepsis-screening-delivery-admissions-1055312694) Main EK, Fuller M, Kovacheva VP, et al. Performance Characteristics of Sepsis Screening Tools During Delivery Admissions Obstet Gynecol. Published online December 12 2023\. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000005477 2023 Dec 12 - Publication ### [Performance Characteristics of Sepsis Screening Tools During Antepartum and Postpartum Admissions](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/performance-sepsis-screening-antepartum-postpartum-1055312962) Bauer ME, Fuller M, Kovacheva V, et al. Performance Characteristics of Sepsis Screening Tools During Antepartum and Postpartum Admissions. Obstet Gynecol. Published online December 12 2023\. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000005480 2023 Dec 12 - Publication ### [The impact of consumer affordability on access to assisted reproductive technologies and embryo transfer practices: an international analysis.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/consumer-afford-access-assisted-reproductive-tech-1055312907) Chambers GM, Hoang VP, Sullivan EA, Chapman MG, Ishihara O, Zegers-Hochschild F, Nygren KG, Adamson GD. 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Epub 2013 Oct 21. 2014 Jan 01 [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/revisit-table-2-fallacy-preeclampsia-and-preterm-birth-1055312379#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Research publications","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Revisit table 2 fallacy-preeclampsia and preterm birth"}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/revisit-table-2-fallacy-preeclampsia-and-preterm-birth-1055312379#medicalscholarlyarticle","name":"Revisiting the Table 2 fallacy: A motivating example examining preeclampsia and preterm birth.","headline":"Revisit table 2 fallacy-preeclampsia and preterm birth","abstract":"BACKGROUND: A \"Table Fallacy,\" as coined by Westreich and Greenland, reports multiple adjusted effect estimates from a single model. This practice, which remains common in published literature, can be problematic when different types of effect estimates are presented together in a single table. The purpose of this paper is to quantitatively illustrate this potential for misinterpretation with an example estimating the effects of preeclampsia on preterm birth. METHODS: We analyzed a retrospective population-based cohort of 2 963 888 singleton births in California between 2007 and 2012. We performed a modified Poisson regression to calculate the total effect of preeclampsia on the risk of PTB, adjusting for previous preterm birth. pregnancy alcohol abuse, maternal education, and maternal socio-demographic factors (Model 1). In subsequent models, we report the total effects of previous preterm birth, alcohol abuse, and education on the risk of PTB, comparing and contrasting the controlled direct effects, total effects, and confounded effect estimates, resulting from Model 1. RESULTS: The effect estimate for previous preterm birth (a controlled direct effect in Model 1) increased 10% when estimated as a total effect. The risk ratio for alcohol abuse, biased due to an uncontrolled confounder in Model 1, was reduced by 23% when adjusted for drug abuse. The risk ratio for maternal education, solely a predictor of the outcome, was essentially unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: Reporting multiple effect estimates from a single model may lead to misinterpretation and lack of reproducibility. This example highlights the need for careful consideration of the types of effects estimated in statistical models.","description":"Reporting multiple effect estimates from a single model may lead to misinterpretation and lack of reproducibility.","keywords":["Biostatistics","Maternal and Infant Health","Obstetrics and Gynecology"],"datePublished":"2018-05-21","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/revisit-table-2-fallacy-preeclampsia-and-preterm-birth-1055312379","inLanguage":"en-US","identifier":[{"@type":"PropertyValue","propertyID":"PMID","value":"29782045"},{"@type":"PropertyValue","propertyID":"DOI","value":"10.1111/ppe.12474"}],"sameAs":["https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29782045/","https://doi.org/10.1111/ppe.12474"],"isPartOf":{"@type":"Periodical","name":"Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol"},"author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Bandoli G"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Palmsten K"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Chambers CD"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Jelliffe-Pawlowski LL"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Baer RJ"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Thompson CA"}],"sourceOrganization":{"@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Palo Alto Medical Foundation Research Institute"},"about":[{"@type":"DefinedTerm","name":"Biostatistics","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_researchTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Biostatistics%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=research_publication"},{"@type":"DefinedTerm","name":"Maternal and Infant Health","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_researchTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Maternal+and+Infant+Health%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=research_publication"},{"@type":"DefinedTerm","name":"Obstetrics and Gynecology","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_researchTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Obstetrics+and+Gynecology%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=research_publication"}],"mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/revisit-table-2-fallacy-preeclampsia-and-preterm-birth-1055312379","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/revisit-table-2-fallacy-preeclampsia-and-preterm-birth-1055312379#breadcrumblist"}}} ```