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Considering the NNT example, the NNH here > NNT there, which is a good deal!
e. Odds Ratio
OR = A * D
B*C
The OR represents the odds that an outcome will occur given a particular exposure, compared to the odds of the outcome
occurring in the absence of that exposure. Usually used in case-control and cross-sectional studies.
Example: A pharmacist decides to do a case-control study investigating if counseling had an effect on point-of-care INRs greater
than 4. During a one-month period, she retrospectively identified 29 patients whom received counseling and 21 who did not
receive counseling and looked at if they had INRs greater than 4. Among the patients who received counseling, 11 had an INR
>4 compared to 14 patients in the group who did not receive counseling.
Developed (Bad) Did Not Develop
Outcome Outcome (Good)
Exposed A B
Not Exposed C D
Developed INR >4 No INR >4
Counseled on 11 18
Coumadin
Never Received 14 7
Counseling
OR = 11 * 7 = 0.31 The odds of having an INR >4 was 69% lower (OR below 1, so 1-0.31=0.69) in patients who received
18 * 14 Coumadin counseling than those who did not receive counseling.
The RR is the ratio of the probability of an event/outcome occurring in an exposed group compared to the probability of the
event occurring in a comparison, non-exposed group. Usually used in cohort studies.
Example: Out of 1,000 patients at a free clinic, 382 are taking a statin. Patients were followed for 6 months to see if they
developed diabetes. There were 134 cases of diabetes in statin users, compared to 76 in in non-statin users.
Developed (Bad) Did Not Develop
Outcome Outcome (Good)
Exposed A B
Not Exposed C D
Developed Did Not Develop
Diabetes Diabetes
Statin 134 248
No Statin 76 542
This means the risk of developing the diabetes is 2.9 times more likely in those receiving statins compared to non-statin users.