Causal Models in Disease

Causal Models in Disease (CSN)

Component Causes

• Individual factors (IHAE):

  • Intrinsic host factors

  • Agent factors

  • Environmental factors of the agent-host-environment triad

• A single component cause is rarely sufficient by itself.

Sufficient Cause

• Represents the full causal pathway (the complete pie)

• A disease may have multiple sufficient causes, with each made up of several overlapping component causes.

Necessary Cause

• A component appearing in every pie or causal pathway

• Without this cause, the disease cannot occur.