6) Consider a study to assess the association between lung cancer incidence and

Question

6) Consider a study to assess the association between lung cancer incidence and heavy drinking (defined as 2 2 drinks per day). A prospective study of 4000 randomly selected individuals is conducted where drinking status is determined at baseline and individuals are followed for 10 years. The following table summarizes the results Developed lung cancer Y es 30 Non-heavy drinker 20 Heavy drinker 950 3000 a) [*1 point] Estimate the (risk) ratio of the 10-year risk of lung cancer in heavy drinkers to the 10-year risk of lung cancer in non-heavy drinkers b) [*1 point] Estimate the (odds) ratio of the 10 year odds of lung cancer in heavy drinkers to the 10 year odds of lung cancer in non-heavy drinkers. c) How do parts a) and b) compare? Explain why that is the case

Explanation / Answer

a) Risk ratio = % of lung cancer in heavy drinkers/ % of lungcancer in non heavy drinkers = 30/980 / {20/3020) = 4.622

b) Odds ratio = 30/950 / ( 20/3000) = 4.7368

C) Odds ratio > Risk ratio

The basic difference is that the odds ratio is a ratio of two odds (yep, it’s that obvious) whereas the relative risk is a ratio of two probabilities. (The relative risk is also called the risk ratio). Let’s look at an example.

If The incidence rate is very high, then risk ratio will be close to 1 while odds ratio will be closer to 10 or more.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse 6
• Subjects

---

---

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.