MEANINGFUL INTERPRETATION OF RISK REDUCTION FROM CLINICAL DRUG TRIALS

OBJECTIVE: To illustrate the concepts of relative and absolute risk re duction, and by example, present and discuss the results of prevention trials that have evaluated the impact of drug therapy on cardiovascul ar disease. Additional approaches to evaluating the results of prevent ion trials are also presented. DATA SOURCES: Data were gathered from e ight frequently quoted major cardiovascular intervention trials. CONCL USIONS: Reference to large reductions in relative risk in review paper s, newspapers, and at professional meetings can lead to false expectat ions among clinicians and patients regarding the potential impact of t he treatment in individual patients. When making decisions about preve ntive drug therapy, clinicians are encouraged to examine measures othe r than relative fisk reduction and to include the patient in the decis ion process. Educators should emphasize these other measures of outcom e and not rely solely on relative risk reduction in discussing particu lar areas of therapeutics.