Biostatistics

Damian Jeremia, Biostatistician.

© KCMC-III (DJ), 2012

Epidemiology & Biostatistics, KCMC.
Outline

Definition

Need for Biostatistics (with examples)

Application of Biostatistical Methods

References
Definition of Statistics/Biostatistics
Popular public perception: statistics is a bunch of
mathematical formulas!

Professional opinion: NO, associated formulas are just

GADGETS analogous to, say, a stethoscope used by a
health personnel

“Statistics” -noun, plural for the word “statistic”:

information available in numbers or numbers derived
from data, e.g.;
averages (average no. of new daily admissions = 60.1 patients),
rates in vital statistics (MMR = 578 per 100,000 live births),
proportions (pregnant mothers who use ITN = 65%)
Definition (contd)
“Statistics” -discipline, field of study dealing
with:
systematic collection, summarization, and presentation
of data (DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS)
drawing of conclusions from data about a population
on the basis of part of the population: e.g. “there is a
significant difference in response rate between
chloroquine and SP” (INFERENTIAL
STATISTICS)

Biostatistics -application of statistics in biological

sciences

But, term considered to mean application of

statistics specifically to medical problems -
medical statistics
 Definition (Contd)

• Biostatistics:

– A development and application of statistical reasoning

and methods in addressing, analyzing, and solving

problems in public health; health care; and biomedical,

clinical, and population-based research

Need for Biostatistics

Element of variability calls for standardized

techniques of coping with biological variability
in biological sciences, a constituent is not defined by a
single value that is identical for all
Need for Biostatistics (contd)
Consider following general questions:
“what is the normal BP in man?”

“how many live births does a woman give during her

reproductive period?”

Questions to Medical or P/Health specialists:

“Mr. Physician, what are the limits of error in your
blood pressure measurements?”

“Mr. Epidemiologist, how much reduction in malaria

incidence is attributable to ITNs use?”
Need for Biostatistics (contd)
Answers to the general questions suggest
variability.

We need to quantify answers for questions to the

specialists.

In general, we need some numerical approach -

statistical methods.
Application of Biostatistics
Statistical methods have a role to play in:
Official health statistics/statements (e.g. time trends
of number of cases of a disease).

Epidemiology (e.g. association of diseases with some

risk factors).

Clinical studies (e.g. comparison of treatments in

clinical trials).

Health service administration (e.g. priority setting in

resource allocation, via CEA).
Application of Biostatistics
•Human biology - (e.g.. Growth pattern)

•Laboratory studies – (e.g. dose response studies i.e.

the changes observed are due to drugs or by chance)

•Medicine – To find efficacy of a particular drugs (e.g.

% of cured & died in the experiment & control group)

•etc
Reading List
Armitage, P., Berry, G. and Matthews, J.N.S.
(2002). Statistical Methods in Medical Research,
4th Edition. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific
Publications. (older editions are also good).

Bland, M. (2002). An Introduction to Medical

Statistics, 3rd Edition. New York: Oxford
University Press.

Hill, A. Bradfrod (1984). A Short Textbook of

Medical Statistics, 11th Edition. London: Hodder
and Stoughton.
Reading List (contd)
Kazaura, M.R., Makwaya, C.K., Masanja, C.M.,
and Mpembeni, R.C. (1998). Lecture Notes in
Biostatistics. MUCHS, Dept. of
Epidemiology/Biostatistics.

Kirkwood, B.R. and Sterne, J.A.C. (2003).

Essential Medical Statistics, 2nd Edition. London:
Blackwell Scientific Publications.

Petrie, Aviva (1990). Lecture Notes on Medical

Statistics, 2nd Edition. Oxford: Blackwell
Scientific Publications.