Common pitfalls in statistical analysis: Absolute risk reduction, relative risk reduction, and number needed to treat

doi:10.4103/2229-3485.173773

. 2016 Jan-Mar;7(1):51-3.

doi: 10.4103/2229-3485.173773.

Common pitfalls in statistical analysis: Absolute risk reduction, relative risk reduction, and number needed to treat

Priya Ranganathan¹, C S Pramesh², Rakesh Aggarwal³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anaesthesiology, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
² Department of Surgical Oncology, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
³ Department of Gastroenterology, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.

PMID: 26952180
PMCID: PMC4763519
DOI: 10.4103/2229-3485.173773

Common pitfalls in statistical analysis: Absolute risk reduction, relative risk reduction, and number needed to treat

Priya Ranganathan et al. Perspect Clin Res. 2016 Jan-Mar.

. 2016 Jan-Mar;7(1):51-3.

doi: 10.4103/2229-3485.173773.

Authors

Priya Ranganathan¹, C S Pramesh², Rakesh Aggarwal³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anaesthesiology, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
² Department of Surgical Oncology, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
³ Department of Gastroenterology, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.

PMID: 26952180
PMCID: PMC4763519
DOI: 10.4103/2229-3485.173773

Abstract

In the previous article in this series on common pitfalls in statistical analysis, we looked at the difference between risk and odds. Risk, which refers to the probability of occurrence of an event or outcome, can be defined in absolute or relative terms. Understanding what these measures represent is essential for the accurate interpretation of study results.

Keywords: Biostatistics; numbers needed to treat; risk.

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References

1. Ranganathan P, Aggarwal R, Pramesh CS. Common pitfalls in statistical analysis: Odds versus risk. Perspect Clin Res. 2015;6:222–4. - PMC - PubMed
1. Naylor CD, Chen E, Strauss B. Measured enthusiasm: Does the method of reporting trial results alter perceptions of therapeutic effectiveness? Ann Intern Med. 1992;117:916–21. - PubMed
1. Akobeng AK. Understanding measures of treatment effect in clinical trials. Arch Dis Child. 2005;90:54–6. - PMC - PubMed
1. Schulz KF, Altman DG, Moher D CONSORT Group. CONSORT 2010 statement: Updated guidelines for reporting parallel group randomized trials. Ann Intern Med. 2010;152:726–32. - PubMed
1. Shermock KM, Horn E, Lipsett PA, Pronovost PJ, Dorman T. Number needed to treat and cost of recombinant human erythropoietin to avoid one transfusion-related adverse event in critically ill patients. Crit Care Med. 2005;33:497–503. - PubMed

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[1] Ranganathan P, Aggarwal R, Pramesh CS. Common pitfalls in statistical analysis: Odds versus risk. Perspect Clin Res. 2015;6:222–4. - PMC - PubMed

[2] Ranganathan P, Aggarwal R, Pramesh CS. Common pitfalls in statistical analysis: Odds versus risk. Perspect Clin Res. 2015;6:222–4. - PMC - PubMed

[3] Naylor CD, Chen E, Strauss B. Measured enthusiasm: Does the method of reporting trial results alter perceptions of therapeutic effectiveness? Ann Intern Med. 1992;117:916–21. - PubMed

[4] Naylor CD, Chen E, Strauss B. Measured enthusiasm: Does the method of reporting trial results alter perceptions of therapeutic effectiveness? Ann Intern Med. 1992;117:916–21. - PubMed

[5] Akobeng AK. Understanding measures of treatment effect in clinical trials. Arch Dis Child. 2005;90:54–6. - PMC - PubMed

[6] Akobeng AK. Understanding measures of treatment effect in clinical trials. Arch Dis Child. 2005;90:54–6. - PMC - PubMed

[7] Schulz KF, Altman DG, Moher D CONSORT Group. CONSORT 2010 statement: Updated guidelines for reporting parallel group randomized trials. Ann Intern Med. 2010;152:726–32. - PubMed

[8] Schulz KF, Altman DG, Moher D CONSORT Group. CONSORT 2010 statement: Updated guidelines for reporting parallel group randomized trials. Ann Intern Med. 2010;152:726–32. - PubMed

[9] Shermock KM, Horn E, Lipsett PA, Pronovost PJ, Dorman T. Number needed to treat and cost of recombinant human erythropoietin to avoid one transfusion-related adverse event in critically ill patients. Crit Care Med. 2005;33:497–503. - PubMed

[10] Shermock KM, Horn E, Lipsett PA, Pronovost PJ, Dorman T. Number needed to treat and cost of recombinant human erythropoietin to avoid one transfusion-related adverse event in critically ill patients. Crit Care Med. 2005;33:497–503. - PubMed

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Common pitfalls in statistical analysis: Absolute risk reduction, relative risk reduction, and number needed to treat

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Common pitfalls in statistical analysis: Absolute risk reduction, relative risk reduction, and number needed to treat

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