What statistical measure is typically used in case-control studies?

In case-control studies, the primary statistical measure used is the odds ratio. This measure assesses the odds of exposure to a particular risk factor among cases (those with the disease) compared to controls (those without the disease).

The odds ratio provides insight into the association between exposure and outcome. If the odds ratio is greater than 1, it suggests a positive association between the exposure and the outcome, indicating that the exposure may be a risk factor for the disease. If it is less than 1, it indicates a protective effect, while an odds ratio of 1 implies no association.

Relative risk is not typically used in case-control studies because it requires information about the incidence of the disease in the exposed and unexposed groups, which is not directly accessible in this study design. Attributable risk relates to the proportion of the incidence of a condition that can be attributed to a particular risk factor, and population risk pertains to the risk in a whole population without differentiating between cases and controls. Therefore, the odds ratio is particularly suitable for the nature of case-control studies, focusing on the retrospective evaluation of associations.