Why is loss to follow-up a concern in longitudinal studies?
Loss to follow-up is a major concern in longitudinal studies, where participants are observed over an extended period. If participants drop out of the study, the resulting data may be incomplete, which can lead to biased outcomes. This attrition can be due to various reasons such as moving away, losing interest, or experiencing adverse events. Strategies to mitigate this include maintaining regular contact with participants and providing incentives for continued participation.
