Estimating relative risks and risk differences in randomised controlled trials: a systematic review of current practice.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Guidelines for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) recommend reporting relative and absolute measures of effect for binary outcomes while adjusting for covariates. There are a number of different ways covariate-adjusted relative risks and risk differences can be estimated.

Objectives

Our goal was to identify methods used to estimate covariate-adjusted relative risk and risk differences in RCTs published in high-impact journals with binary outcomes. Other secondary objectives included the identification of how covariates are chosen for adjustment and whether covariate adjustment results in an increase in statistical precision in practice.

Methods

We included two-arm parallel RCTs published in JAMA, NEJM, Lancet, or the BMJ between January 1, 2018, and March

SUBMITTER: Thompson J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11694472 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature