Confounding

3-Second Blueprint (English)

1. A confounding variable distorts observed exposure-disease risk because it correlates independently with both the exposure and the outcome.
2. Confounders can create false positive links, like smoking skewing alcohol-heart studies, or mask real effects, like age in exercise data.
3. Variables on the causal pathway, like exercise lowering blood pressure to reduce heart attacks, act as mediators rather than confounders.