Confounding Factors: In Research, in Medicine, and in Life

Introduction: The Challenge of Critical Care Research

We’ve all faced moments where we’re trying to achieve something important—whether it’s an exam, a career goal, or just trying to balance life’s challenges—and it feels like there are invisible forces working against us. Just when we think we’ve figured it out, something unexpected happens, throwing us off course.

In the world of critical care research, this complexity is part of the job. Proving something with solid evidence—especially when there are so many confounding factors—is an enormous challenge. Today, I want to share how these confounding factors shape research and how, in our own lives, hidden obstacles can distort our path to success, often without us even realizing it.

Whether you’re working on a professional goal, preparing for an important exam, or navigating personal challenges, understanding and addressing these hidden obstacles can make all the difference.

The Complexity of Critical Care Research: A Real-Life Example

In research, especially in the ICU, confounding factors are everywhere. Imagine you want to prove something as simple as whether vitamin D supplementation improves outcomes for ICU patients. Proving that vitamin D levels increase is easy. But proving that it helps reduce mortality, shortens ventilator days, or leads to faster recovery? That’s where the challenge begins.

In the ICU, everything is dynamic. Patients can be admitted for one problem and end up leaving with another diagnosis. There are iatrogenic factors—complications from medical treatments—and hospital-acquired infections that influence outcomes. These are the confounding factors that cloud the results, making it hard to draw clean conclusions.

For example, as a doctor who once believed in practicing pure Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM), I’ve learned that it’s not enough to just look at the results of a study. You need to understand the thinking behind it—the study’s strengths, its limitations, and whether the outcome really tells the full story. But this isn’t just a lesson for medicine. It’s a lesson for life.

Relating This to Life: Confounding Factors in Your Own Journey

Think about your own life. Have you ever worked toward a goal, only to feel frustrated when things didn’t go as planned? Maybe you studied hard for an exam but didn’t get the results you expected. Or maybe you’ve been pushing toward a career milestone but feel like something’s holding you back.

Just like in critical care research, there are often confounding factors at play in our lives. External circumstances, internal struggles, or hidden obstacles can distort our path to success. The problem is, we don’t always recognize these hidden barriers. We focus so much on the goal that we forget to account for the emotional, mental, or environmental factors that are affecting us.

The Power of Personal Observation and Small Changes

In my conversations with Dr. Sujit Raina, an inspirational mentor, he reminded me that personal observation is often the most powerful tool we have. In medicine, sometimes it’s the small, seemingly insignificant observations at the bedside that spark the next big research question. And it’s the same in life. Often, it’s the small realizations about ourselves that lead to the biggest breakthroughs.

For example, I used to be obsessed with chasing ranks, goals, and outcomes. It felt like these were the only measures of success. But when things didn’t go as planned, it hit me hard. I began to question myself. Was I doing something wrong? Was I not good enough?

But then, during my work with Thaddeus Lawrence, a peak performance coach, I experienced a major shift in perspective. Thaddeus showed me that success isn’t just about reaching the destination—it’s about the journey. It’s about continuous growth toward a higher purpose. This realization was a game-changer for me. I began to see how the confounding factors in my own life—stress, frustration, self-doubt—were quietly skewing my results.

Confounding Factors in Life: My Personal Breakthrough

Here’s the thing: Just like in research, the biggest confounding factors in our lives often aren’t external. They’re internal. They’re the emotional burdens, the mental blocks, and the unresolved struggles that weigh us down. For me, these showed up as anger, guilt, frustration, and helplessness. And just like in research, these confounding factors didn’t appear overnight. They built up over time, slowly distorting my progress without me even realizing it.

Maybe you’ve felt the same way. Have you ever been working toward a goal and found yourself procrastinating or feeling overwhelmed, even though you know you’re capable of more? These are the hidden confounding factors—internal struggles, self-doubt, the pressure to be perfect—that distort our path.

But here’s what I’ve learned: Once you recognize these hidden obstacles, you can start addressing them. It’s not about eliminating every obstacle—it’s about becoming aware of them and learning how to manage them.

The Importance of Community and High-Energy People

Another powerful realization I had was the importance of surrounding yourself with high-energy people. Just like in research, where experts come together to share knowledge and form guidelines, in life, we need to be part of a community—a group of like-minded individuals who are striving for growth and excellence.

The energy you absorb from the people around you has a huge impact on your mindset. When you’re surrounded by people who are motivated and positive, they lift you up. They help you see beyond the confounding factors and keep you moving forward. But when you’re surrounded by people who drain your energy, it can be hard to see past the obstacles in front of you.

It’s not that there’s one “right way” to succeed. But just like in medicine, where consensus guidelines are based on collective wisdom, being part of a supportive community can help you navigate life’s challenges with more clarity.

Conclusion: Identifying the Confounding Factors in Your Life

So, what are the confounding factors in your life? Take a moment to think about the goals you’re working toward. Are there hidden emotional or mental burdens that might be skewing your progress? Are you focused on reaching the outcome without addressing the internal struggles that are holding you back?

Where in your life are you looking for validation, or where are you feeling overwhelmed? Is there a sense of helplessness or procrastination creeping in? These are the invisible forces that can distort your path to success.

Just like in critical care research, you can’t always control the confounding factors in life. But becoming aware of them is the first step toward managing them. Once you recognize these hidden variables, you can start making small, meaningful changes that will bring you closer to your goals.

Stay balanced, stay healthy, and remember—success isn’t just about the end result. It’s about the journey, the awareness, and the resilience to keep moving forward despite the confounding factors.

Dr.Krishna Bharath,MD