The Bradford Hill criterion of 'dose-response relationship' (biological gradient) refers to:
- A Greater exposure to the risk factor being associated with higher disease frequency ✓
- B Higher doses of treatment producing better outcomes
- C The drug dose that causes 50% of maximum effect
- D Consistency of association across different study designs
Correct answer: A. Greater exposure to the risk factor being associated with higher disease frequency
Explanation
Bradford Hill's criterion of 'biological gradient' (dose-response) strengthens causal inference when greater exposure to a suspected cause is associated with higher frequency or severity of the disease. For example, heavier smokers have higher lung cancer incidence than lighter smokers. This gradient supports (but doesn't prove) causation. The nine Hill criteria are: strength, consistency, specificity, temporality, biological gradient, plausibility, coherence, experiment, and analogy.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.