ABSTRACT
Bivariate or univariable analysis refers to the analysis of the relationship between one independent (X ) and one dependent variable (Y ). For example, if an investigator decides to examine the relationship between the height and weight of 100 high school children, she or he may wish to determine if weight (Y ) depends on height (X ).1 Multivariable analysis refers to the analysis between a single dependent variable and more than one independent variable (e.g., a study to determine the impact of race/ethnicity and gender in the development of colorectal cancer).2 The independent variables are age (X 1) and race (X 2), while the dependent variable is colorectal cancer (Y ). Multivariate analysis is the technique that involves more than one dependent and more than a single independent variable.3 This term is not interchangeable with multivariable analysis, and it is often used incorrectly.
