Covariates意思

"Covariates" is a term used in statistics and epidemiology to refer to variables that may influence the outcome of an experiment or study, but are not the main focus of the investigation. In other words, they are variables that are believed to be related to both the independent variable (the one being manipulated or studied) and the dependent variable (the outcome that is being measured).

For example, in a study on the effectiveness of a new drug for treating a certain disease, age, gender, and severity of the disease might be considered covariates. These factors could affect both the likelihood of a patient being prescribed the drug and the patient's response to the drug, even though they are not the primary reason for the study.

When analyzing data, researchers often control for covariates to ensure that the results are not confounded by these factors. This can be done by including the covariates in the statistical model, adjusting for them in the analysis, or matching study participants on these characteristics.