Gina Kolata’s New York Times Article Gives Helpful Insight for Flawed Cholesterol Calculator

Gina Kolata wrote again today about the cholesterol calculator that exaggerates “…the true risk of a heart attack or stroke by an average of 100 percent…” http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/19/health/flawed-gauge-for-cholesterol-risk-poses-a-new-challenge-for-cardiologists.html?ref=us

This article gives more insight into the statistical/mathematical problems:  “…Dr. H. Gilbert Welch, a medical professor at Dartmouth [says] the calculator, like many others used in medicine, is based on a mathematical model that assumes that risk rises in a straight line… In reality, Dr. Welch said, that line is far from straight…”

I wanted to point this article out to the readers of this blog.

(I commented on this topic and its possible connection with education here The Economist Cover Story “How Science Goes Wrong” and NY Times “Risk Calculator for Cholesterol Appears Flawed”; Connected? )