TEST OF HOMOGENEITY OF BINARY DATA WITH EXPLANATORY VARIABLES

Apparent heterogeneity of the risk of a disease in different groups ma y be explained by subject-specific risk factors unequally distributed in these groups. We propose a score test of homogeneity that allows ad justment for known risk factors of the disease; The test is based on a random-effect logistic regression model and requires only simple comp utations in addition to a conventional logistic regression method. The score test is applied to the study of geographical heterogeneity of c ognitive impairment in elderly using a sample of 3,318 subjects scatte red in 75 parishes. It is shown that an apparent heterogeneity disappe ars when taking into account subject-specific risk factors. This test may also be useful for studying familial aggregation of a disease.