Korean J Fam Med.  2012 Mar;33(2):89-93. 10.4082/kjfm.2012.33.2.89.

Misinterpreting Odds Ratio in the Articles Published in Korean Journal of Family Medicine

• Kim JH
• Kim MY
• Kim SY
• Hwang IH
• Kang EJ

• KMID: 2304274
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.2012.33.2.89

Abstract

BACKGROUND
In reporting results of case-control studies, odds ratios are useful methods of reporting findings. However, odds ratios are often misinterpreted in the literature and by general readers.
METHODS
We searched all original articles which were published in the Korean Journal of Family Medicine from 1980 to May 2011 and identified those that report "odds ratios." Misinterpretation of odds ratios as relative risks has been identified. Estimated risk ratios were calculated when possible and compared with odds ratios.
RESULTS
One hundred and twenty-eight articles using odds ratios were identified. Among those, 122 articles were analyzed for the frequency of misinterpretation of odds ratios as relative risks. Twenty-two reports out of these 122 articles misinterpreted odds ratios as relative risks. The percentage of misinterpreting reports decreased over years. Seventy-seven reports were analyzed to compare the estimated risk ratios with odds ratios. In most of these articles, odds ratios were greater than estimated risk ratios, 60% of which had larger than 20% standardized differences.
CONCLUSION
In reports published in the Korean Journal of Family Medicine, odds ratios are frequently used. They were misinterpreted in part of the reports, although decreasing trends over years were observed.

Keyword

Odds Ratio; Relative Risk; Korean Journal of Family Medicine; Misinterpretation

MeSH Terms

Case-Control Studies
Humans
Odds Ratio