In epidemiology, the relative risk reduction (RRR) or efficacy is the relative decrease in the risk of an adverse event in the exposed group compared to an unexposed group. It is computed as
, where
is the incidence in the exposed group, and
is the incidence in the unexposed group. If the risk of an adverse event is increased by the exposure rather than decreased, the term relative risk increase (RRI) is used, and it is computed as
.[1][2] If the direction of risk change is not assumed, the term relative effect is used, and it is computed in the same way as relative risk increase.[3]
Numerical examples
Risk reduction
Example of risk reduction
Quantity
|
Experimental group (E)
|
Control group (C)
|
Total
|
Events (E)
|
EE = 15
|
CE = 100
|
115
|
Non-events (N)
|
EN = 135
|
CN = 150
|
285
|
Total subjects (S)
|
ES = EE + EN = 150
|
CS = CE + CN = 250
|
400
|
Event rate (ER)
|
EER = EE / ES = 0.1, or 10%
|
CER = CE / CS = 0.4, or 40%
|
—
|
Risk increase
Example of risk increase
Quantity
|
Experimental group (E)
|
Control group (C)
|
Total
|
Events (E)
|
EE = 75
|
CE = 100
|
175
|
Non-events (N)
|
EN = 75
|
CN = 150
|
225
|
Total subjects (S)
|
ES = EE + EN = 150
|
CS = CE + CN = 250
|
400
|
Event rate (ER)
|
EER = EE / ES = 0.5, or 50%
|
CER = CE / CS = 0.4, or 40%
|
—
|
See also
References