Question

Explain the dofference between relative risk, attributable risk and population attributable risk. Provide an example of how each each type of risk is used in epidemiology. how would you propose using population attributable risk to advocate for a healthy policy or intervention relative to your health interest.

Answer 1

Relative risk (RR)	Attributable risk (AR)	Population attributable risk
It is referred to as the probability of an event/disease occurring between the exposed group and the non- exposed group. if RR is more than 1, then the exposure is associated with the disease. if RR is equaled to 1, then the exposure is not associated with the disease. if RR is less than 1, then the exposure is actually protective.	Attributable risk is referred to as the excess risk due to exposure or in the exposed group. Attributable risk is commonly known as risk difference. We can simply obtain AR by subtracting the Incidence of the exposed group from non exposed group.	Population attributable risk is referred to as the added risk associated with the risk factor in relation to the whole population. It is the risk that would be eliminated if we eliminate risk factors or exposure from the population.

Population attributable risk shows the risk on the whole population due to exposure, and that can easily be eliminated by setting polices or by doing some public health activities that will eliminate the exposure or risk factor.