Odds Ratio - Relation To Relative Risk

Relation To Relative Risk

In clinical studies, as well as in some other settings, the parameter of greatest interest is often the relative risk rather than the odds ratio. The relative risk is best estimated using a population sample, but if the rare disease assumption holds, the odds ratio is a good approximation to the relative risk — the odds is p / (1 − p), so when p moves towards zero, 1 − p moves towards 1, meaning that the odds approaches the risk, and the odds ratio approaches the relative risk. When the rare disease assumption does not hold, the odds ratio can overestimate the relative risk.

If the absolute risk in the control group is available, conversion between the two is calculated by:

where:

  • RR = relative risk
  • OR = odds ratio
  • RC = absolute risk in the unexposed group, given as a fraction (for example: fill in 10% risk as 0.1)

Read more about this topic:  Odds Ratio

Famous quotes containing the words relation to, relation, relative and/or risk:

    Hesitation increases in relation to risk in equal proportion to age.
    Ernest Hemingway (1899–1961)

    Unaware of the absurdity of it, we introduce our own petty household rules into the economy of the universe for which the life of generations, peoples, of entire planets, has no importance in relation to the general development.
    Alexander Herzen (1812–1870)

    It is an interesting question how far men would retain their relative rank if they were divested of their clothes.
    Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)

    I’m a very smart guy. I haven’t a feeling or a scruple in the world. All I have the itch for is money. I am so money greedy that for twenty-five bucks a day and expenses, mostly gasoline and whisky, I do my thinking myself, what there is of it; I risk my whole future, the hatred of the cops ... I dodge bullets and eat saps, and say thank you very much, if you have any more trouble, I hope you’ll think of me, I’ll just leave one of my cards in case anything comes up.
    Raymond Chandler (1888–1959)