Understanding Relative Risk If a cohort study finds that the RR of developing lung cancer for smokers compared to non-smokers is 5, it means smokers are five times more likely to develop lung cancer than non-smokers. It is important to note that RR does not convey the absolute risk, only the relative difference.
Understanding Odds Ratio In a case-control study investigating the association between an exposure and an outcome, an OR of 3 means that the odds of the outcome are three times higher in the exposed group compared to the non-exposed group. However, OR can sometimes overestimate the risk, especially when the outcome is common.
Understanding Attributable RiskIf the AR for hypertension due to high salt intake is 20%, it means that 20% of hypertension cases in the population can be attributed to high salt intake. Reducing salt intake could potentially prevent these cases.
