Relative risk reduction

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In clinical epidemiology and evidence-based medicine, the relative risk reduction is a measure of the likelihood of a clinical outcome in group of patients exposed to a factor compared to a control group of patients.[1] This measure should be contrasted with the absolute risk reduction.

Calculations

Two-by-two table for a randomized-controlled trial or cohort study
Outcome
Present Absent
Experimental group Cell A Cell B Total in the experimental group
Control group Cell C Cell D Total in the control group
Total with the outcome Total without the outcome

The relative risk reduction may be used to derive the number needed to treat:[2][3]

Note that the relative risk reduction is that same as 1 - the relative risk ratio.

References

  1. Barratt A, Wyer PC, Hatala R, et al (2004). "Tips for learners of evidence-based medicine: 1. Relative risk reduction, absolute risk reduction and number needed to treat". CMAJ 171 (4): 353–8. DOI:10.1503/cmaj.1021197. PMID 15313996. Research Blogging.
  2. Furukawa TA, Guyatt GH, Griffith LE (February 2002). "Can we individualize the 'number needed to treat'? An empirical study of summary effect measures in meta-analyses". Int J Epidemiol 31 (1): 72–6. PMID 11914297[e]
  3. Chatellier G, Zapletal E, Lemaitre D, Menard J, Degoulet P (February 1996). "The number needed to treat: a clinically useful nomogram in its proper context". BMJ 312 (7028): 426–9. PMID 8601116. PMC 2350093[e]

See also