title: Common pitfalls in statistical analysis: Absolute risk reduction, relative risk reduction, and number needed to treat.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Priya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ranganathan
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Pramesh
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Rakesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aggarwal
keywords: Biostatistics; numbers needed to treat; risk