A case-control study is an observational, retrospective study which "involves identifying patients who have the outcome of interest (cases) and control patients without the same outcome, and looking back to see if they had the exposure of interest." [2]

Case Control Study

Retrospective case-control studies rely on people’s memories, making them prone to error. Also, it may be difficult to measure the exact amount of an exposure in the past. For example, how might researchers determine the intake of sugar or sweeteners and nocturnal breastfeeding among infants with early children caries (ECC)? Researchers might ask parents to report their infants' estimated consumption of sugar or sweeteners and nocturnal breastfeeding.

van Palenstein Helderman WH, Soe W, van 't Hof MA. Risk factors of early childhood caries in a Southeast Asian population. J. Dent. Res. 2006 Jan;85(1):85-8.


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