Replacing Indicator Variables by Fuzzy Membership Functions in Statistical Regression Models: Examples of Epidemiological Studies

摘要

The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the possibility of substitution of indicator variables in statistical regression models used in epidemiology for corresponding membership functions. Both methodological and practical aspects of such substitution are considered in this paper through three examples. The first example considers the connection between women's quality of life and categories of Body Mass Index. In the second example we examine death incidence among Bedouin children of different age categories. The third example considers the factors that can affect on high hemoglobin HbA(lc) in diabetic patients.