Risk difference

Illustration of two groups: one exposed to a risk factor, and one unexposed. Exposed group has smaller risk of adverse outcome (RD = −0.25, ARR = 0.25).
The adverse outcome (black) risk difference between the group exposed to the treatment (left) and the group unexposed to the treatment (right) is −0.25 (RD = −0.25, ARR = 0.25).

The risk difference (RD), excess risk, or attributable risk[1] is the difference between the risk of an outcome in the exposed group and the 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 outcome is increased by the exposure, the term absolute risk increase (ARI) is used, and computed as . Equivalently, if the risk of an outcome is decreased by the exposure, the term absolute risk reduction (ARR) is used, and computed as .[2][3]

The inverse of the absolute risk reduction is the number needed to treat, and the inverse of the absolute risk increase is the number needed to harm.[2]

  1. ^ Porta M, ed. (2014). Dictionary of Epidemiology (6th ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 14. doi:10.1093/acref/9780199976720.001.0001. ISBN 978-0-19-939006-9.
  2. ^ a b Porta, Miquel, ed. (2014). "Dictionary of Epidemiology - Oxford Reference". Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acref/9780199976720.001.0001. ISBN 9780199976720. Retrieved 2018-05-09.
  3. ^ J., Rothman, Kenneth (2012). Epidemiology : an introduction (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. pp. 66, 160, 167. ISBN 9780199754557. OCLC 750986180.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)