Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
732528 
Journal Article 
Estimating the relative risk in cohort studies and clinical trials of common outcomes 
McNutt, LA; Wu, C; Xue, X; Hafner, JP 
2003 
Yes 
American Journal of Epidemiology
ISSN: 0002-9262
EISSN: 1476-6256 
157 
10 
940-943 
English 
12746247 
Logistic regression yields an adjusted odds ratio that approximates the adjusted relative risk when disease incidence is rare (<10%), while adjusting for potential confounders. For more common outcomes, the odds ratio always overstates the relative risk, sometimes dramatically. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the incorrect application of a proposed method to estimate an adjusted relative risk from an adjusted odds ratio, which has quickly gained popularity in medical and public health research, and to describe alternative statistical methods for estimating an adjusted relative risk when the outcome is common. Hypothetical data are used to illustrate statistical methods with readily accessible computer software. 
clinical trials; cohort studies; odds ratio; relative risk