Terminology Review

2 x 2 Table – A conceptual table used in epidemiology with two rows and two columns
that guides study design and diagrams how relative risk (also known as
measures of association) are calculated.
Exposure Odds Ratio – The odds ratio interpretation used in a case-control study.
Measures of Association – Formulas that result in a number that represents how
associated an exposure is with an outcome. There are different measures
of association that can be used depending upon study design, but all are
ratios.
Odds Ratio – The ratio of two odds estimates as a way of producing a relative risk
estimate to compare the odds estimates. Can be used as a measure of
association in cross-sectional and case-control studies.
Outcome Odds Ratio – The odds ratio interpretation used in cross-sectional and other
epidemiologic study designs.
Prevalence Ratio – Same as rate ratio, which is defined as the ratio of two prevalence
estimates as a way of producing a relative risk estimate to compare the
prevalence estimates.
Rate Ratio – The ratio of two prevalence estimates as a way of producing a relative risk
estimate to compare the prevalence estimates. Can be used as a
measure of association in cross-sectional studies.
Relative Risk – The risk of having a certain outcome status relative to having a
particular exposure status. Same as measures of association.

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