Relative risk reduction explained

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 increase

See also

• Population Impact Measures
• Vaccine efficacy

References

1. Book: Dictionary of Epidemiology - Oxford Reference. A Dictionary of Epidemiology . 2014. Oxford University Press . en. 10.1093/acref/9780199976720.001.0001. 9780199976720. 2018-05-09. Porta. Miquel.
2. Book: Epidemiology : beyond the basics. Szklo. Moyses. Nieto. F. Javier. Jones & Bartlett Learning. 2019. 9781284116595. 4th.. Burlington, Massachusetts. 97. 1019839414.
3. Book: J., Rothman, Kenneth. Epidemiology : an introduction. 2012. Oxford University Press. 9780199754557. 2nd. New York, NY. 59. 750986180.