Experimental event rate
In epidemiology and biostatistics, the experimental event rate (EER) is a measure of how often a particular statistical event (such as response to a drug, adverse event or death) occurs within the experimental group (non-control group) of an experiment.[1]
This value is very useful in determining the therapeutic benefit or risk to patients in experimental groups, in comparison to patients in placebo or traditionally treated control groups.[citation needed]
Three statistical terms rely on EER for their calculation: absolute risk reduction, relative risk reduction and number needed to treat.
Control event rate[edit]
The control event rate (CER) is identical to the experimental event rate except that is measured within the scientific control group of an experiment.[2]
Worked example[edit]
In a trial of hypothetical drug "X" where we are measuring event "Z", we have two groups. Our control group (25 people) is given a placebo, and the experimental group (25 people) is given drug "X".
Event "Z" in control group : 4 in 25 people Control event rate : 4/25
Event "Z" in experimental group : 12 in 25 people Experimental event rate : 12/25
Another worked example is as follows:
Example 1: risk reduction | Example 2: risk increase | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Experimental group (E) | Control group (C) | Total | (E) | (C) | Total | |
Events (E) | EE = 15 | CE = 100 | 115 | EE = 75 | CE = 100 | 175 |
Non-events (N) | EN = 135 | CN = 150 | 285 | EN = 75 | CN = 150 | 225 |
Total subjects (S) | ES = EE + EN = 150 | CS = CE + CN = 250 | 400 | ES = 150 | CS = 250 | 400 |
Event rate (ER) | EER = EE / ES = 0.1, or 10% | CER = CE / CS = 0.4, or 40% | EER = 0.5 (50%) | CER = 0.4 (40%) |
Equation | Variable | Abbr. | Example 1 | Example 2 |
---|---|---|---|---|
EER − CER | < 0: absolute risk reduction | ARR | (−)0.3, or (−)30% | N/A |
> 0: absolute risk increase | ARI | N/A | 0.1, or 10% | |
(EER − CER) / CER | < 0: relative risk reduction | RRR | (−)0.75, or (−)75% | N/A |
> 0: relative risk increase | RRI | N/A | 0.25, or 25% | |
1 / (EER − CER) | < 0: number needed to treat | NNT | (−)3.33 | N/A |
> 0: number needed to harm | NNH | N/A | 10 | |
EER / CER | relative risk | RR | 0.25 | 1.25 |
(EE / EN) / (CE / CN) | odds ratio | OR | 0.167 | 1.5 |
EER − CER | attributable risk | AR | (−)0.30, or (−)30% | 0.1, or 10% |
(RR − 1) / RR | attributable risk percent | ARP | N/A | 20% |
1 − RR (or 1 − OR) | preventive fraction | PF | 0.75, or 75% | N/A |
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Experimental event rate (EER)". www.medicine.ox.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 20 August 2010. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
- ^ "Control event rate (CER)". www.medicine.ox.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 20 August 2010. Retrieved 22 May 2022.