How should a relative risk of 5 for exposure to a factor and liver cancer be interpreted?

A relative risk of 5 indicates that individuals exposed to the factor are five times more likely to develop liver cancer compared to those who were not exposed.1

In epidemiology, this value serves as a measure of association quantifying the strength of the relationship between the exposure and the disease. While a relative risk of 1 signifies no association, a value of 5 demonstrates a strong positive association.1

It is important to note two key distinctions regarding this interpretation:
* Statistical Significance: The relative risk itself does not indicate whether the finding is statistically significant. Researchers typically calculate a 95% confidence interval to determine significance; if the interval does not include 1, the relationship is considered significant.1
* Causality: An association does not automatically imply causation. Even with a high relative risk, inferring that the factor causes liver cancer requires careful consideration of study design and potential alternative explanations, as observational studies are often subject to bias.1