TABLE 2. Quality Assessment for Cohort Studies Using Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (n=20)

          Exposed and nonexposed individuals        
Reference Exposed group representative of average in community Exposure ascertained through structured records or structured interviews Nonexposed group selected randomly or consecutively from population Outcome not present at study start Matched Matched by second factor Adjusted by 1 factor when no matching Adjusted by >1 factor when no matching Outcome ascertained by independent or blind assessment Outcome conformation via secure record (chart/file) Follow-up time long enough for outcome to occur Lost to follow-up <20%
Aglan et al,29 2008   Yes                 Yes Yes
Brezo et al,30 2008 Yes             Yes     Yes  
Brown et al,31 1999 Yes Yes Yes         Yes        
Buist & Janson,33 2001   Yes             Yes   Yes Yes
Chowdhary & Patel,36 2008 Yes Yes Yes         Yes     Yes Yes
Dinwiddie et al,39 2000 Yes Yes         Yes       Yes  
Ernst et al,401993 Yes Yes                 Yes  
Fergusson et al,42 2000 Yes Yes Yes               Yes  
Fergusson et al,43 2002 Yes   Yes Yes             Yes Yes
Fergusson et al,41 2008 Yes Yes             Yes   Yes  
Florentine et al,451999   Yes Yes               Yes  
Frank & Anderson,46 1987 Yes Yes       Yes         Yes Yes
Gutner et al,48 2006 Yes Yes Yes               Yes Yes
Harvey et al,491994   Yes                 Yes Yes
Kolko et al,50 2003   Yes               Yes Yes Yes
Pearce et al,35 2008   Yes           Yes     Yes  
Plunkett et al,52 2001 Yes Yes Yes Yes             Yes  
Rimsza et al,541988   Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes       Yes Yes Yes
Spataro et al,56 2004 Yes Yes Yes             Yes Yes  
Widom,631999 Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes