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We previously showed that infectious exposures may be involved in the aetiology of adult glioma, by analysing for space-time clustering using population-based data from the South of the Netherlands. Here we extended these analyses and describe in detail the space-time clustering patterns in glioma subgroups, gender and age-categories. Knox tests for space-time interactions between cases were applied with fixed thresholds of close in space, <5 km, and close in time, <1 year apart. We used the spatial coordinates of the addresses at diagnosis in the analyses. Tests were repeated replacing geographical distance with distance to the Nth nearest neighbour. N was chosen such that the mean distance was 5 km. Data were also analysed by a second order procedure based on K-functions. There was only statistically significant space-time clustering for oligodendroglioma. Clustering was present for adults aged 30-54 years and was more pronounced among males. Given the low prior probability of an infectious aetiology for this specific subgroup, these results should probably be interpreted as false-positive. We conclude that space-time clustering of glioma cannot be attributed to a specific glioma subgroup. The observed clustering in our previous study is therefore probably an overall effect within and between glioma subgroups.

Original publication

DOI

10.1007/s10654-006-0003-0

Type

Journal article

Journal

Eur J Epidemiol

Publication Date

2006

Volume

21

Pages

197 - 201

Keywords

Adolescent, Adult, Age Distribution, Astrocytoma, Brain Neoplasms, Ependymoma, Female, Geographic Information Systems, Geography, Glioma, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Netherlands, Oligodendroglioma, Registries, Risk Factors, Sex Distribution, Space-Time Clustering