Analysis of CARTaGENE representativeness: a case study of environmental exposure and lung cancer risk using CARTaGENE

This study examines whether research findings based on the CARTaGENE cohort accurately represent the populations of Montréal and Saguenay. Because the response rate in CARTaGENE was relatively low (25.6%), participants may differ from non‑participants in important ways, such as socio‑demographic or health characteristics. Lung cancer is used as a case study, as it is one of the leading causes of cancer‑related death worldwide, and smoking is its main risk factor. The study aims to determine whether the association between smoking and lung cancer observed in CARTaGENE reflects the association in the general populations of the two regions. Participant characteristics will be compared with the 2016 Census. Statistical weighting methods will then be applied to adjust for identified differences. Results from weighted and unweighted models will be compared to assess how representativeness affects conclusions and whether weighting improves the external validity of findings based on CARTaGENE.

• Environment and lifestyle
• Methodology and biostatistics
• Public health and epidemiology

• Linked data
• Physical and cognitive measures
• Questionnaire data