Prev: Relative risk
Next: Prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in UK and Holland alarmingly high in winter, urgent need to recommend EFFECTIVE doses
From: Ray K on 10 Mar 2007 16:16
When the drug pushers are trying to scare us into taking one of their
drugs, they cite *relative* risk of some undesirable event happening if
we don't take their magic molecule. But it's very hard - not impossible
- to find the *absolute* risk.

If the odds of an event like a fracture increase from one in a thousand
to two in a thousand, mathematically, that's a 100 percent increase. But
who cares?

There's a wonderful fracture risk calculator here:

http://courses.washington.edu/bonephys/opTZconvert.html

In the T-score box, be sure to put the minus sign in front of your score.

From it, you can determine absolute risks based on density and age
alone, and the risks that account for the 11 Other Factors as well. Then
you can make an intelligent choice as to whether to take medication or
make lifestyle improvements (diet, supplements, balance, exercise). Of
course you can always reduce risk by being extra mindful of risky
activities and tripping hazards that can lead to falls.

Ray
 | 
Pages: 1
Prev: Relative risk
Next: Prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in UK and Holland alarmingly high in winter, urgent need to recommend EFFECTIVE doses