Causal interference - Measures of association

7 important questions on Causal interference - Measures of association

How to define the odds ratio?

The ratio of the odds of A in the presence of B and the odds of A in the absence of B,
or equivalently (due to symmetry),
The ratio of the odss of B in the presence of A and the odds of B in the absence of A.

What does it mean if the odds ratio (OR) > 1?

Then A and B are associated (correlated) in the sense that, compared to the absence of B, the presence of B raises the odds of A, and symmetrically the presence of A raises the odds of B.

What does it mean if the odds ratio (OR) < 1?

Then A and B are negatively correlated, and the presence of one event reduces the odds of the other event.
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When is relative risk (RR) used?

It is used in the statistical analusis of the data of experimental, cohort and cross-sectional studies.
  • To estimate the strength of the association between treatments or risk factors, and outcomes. 

How can we interpret the values of Relative Risks (RR)?

Assuming the causal effects between the exposure and the outcome:
  • RR = 1: means that the exposure does not affect the outcome
  • RR < 1: means that the risk of the outcome is decreased by the exposure
  • RR > 1: means that the risk of the outcome is increased by the exposure

What are correlation coefficients?

A correlation coefficient is a statistical measure of the degree to which changes to the value of one variable predict change to the value of another.
In positively correlated variables, the value increases or decreases in tandem (together).
  • They are expressed as values between +1 and -1. 

What are the three measures of association?

  1. Correlation
  2. differences in means or proportions
  3. Relative risk / risk ratio
    1. risk difference
    2. odds ratio

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