What is an Odds Ratio? What does it mean?

摘要

When we read the results of healthcare research, we often read about relationships or associations between different treatments and their outcomes for patients. Health outcomes can be improved with the use of different types of medications, engagement in health education programmes and changes in lifestyle factors such as targeted improvements in nutrition or reduction in smoking. Depending on the research design, we can use statistical tools to assist us in identifying the most effective healthcare interventions, with the aim of achieving the best health outcome for patients. This can help us make decisions about which treatments we should provide or which public health programmes should be funded, in the hope that we can improve the overall health of our patients and the communities we serve. We often see odds ratios (ORs) being used in research to explain whether interventions contribute to improvements in health. They are used to help researchers demonstrate associations between interventions and outcomes in both positive and negative directions.