What is an Odds Ratio?
Understanding the Relationship Between Exposure and Outcome
An odds ratio (OR) is a statistical measure that assesses the relationship between an exposure and an outcome. It quantifies the likelihood of an outcome occurring among individuals exposed to a particular factor compared to those who are not.
The odds of an outcome refers to the ratio of the probability that an event will happen to the probability that it will not happen. An OR is calculated by dividing the odds of the outcome occurring in the exposed group by the odds of it occurring in the unexposed group.
An OR greater than 1 indicates that the exposure is associated with an increased odds of the outcome, while an OR less than 1 suggests a protective effect or decreased odds of the outcome. An OR of 1 indicates no association between the exposure and the outcome.
Odds ratios are commonly used in epidemiological studies to evaluate the association between risk factors and health outcomes. They provide a quantifiable measure of the strength of the association, allowing researchers to draw conclusions about the potential causal relationship between the exposure and the outcome.
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