Odds Ratio and Relative Risk

Odds Ratio and Relative Risk Two statistical tests that help estimate the likeli- hood of having or getting a given health problem are the odds ratio (OR) and the relative risk (RR). The odds ratio is calculated as the odds of having the health problem if exposed divided by the odds of having the problem if not exposed. The relative risk is calculated as the cumulative incidence in the exposed population divided by the cumulative incidence in the unexposed population. In conducting a community health assessment, planners mostly obtain the odds ratio and relative risk from published studies because having data on exposure usually requires epidemiological research.