Follow-up completeness is essential for several reasons:
Reduction of Bias: High follow-up rates minimize the risk of selection bias, where the characteristics of those lost to follow-up differ from those who remain in the study. Improved Validity: Maintaining a high follow-up rate ensures that the study results are more representative of the original population, improving the internal validity of the study. Enhanced Power: Complete follow-up increases the statistical power of the study, allowing for more precise estimates of the association between exposure and outcome.
