I read a lot of health related studies, and most contain in their conclusion a statistical description of the result. To be able to draw valid conclusions for oneself it is very important to understand what all the numbers mean. I have recently learned all that, so here is an example together with an explanation:
The multivariate relative risk of gout among men in the highest quintile of meat intake, as compared with those in the lowest quintile, was 1.41 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.07 to 1.86; P for trend=0.02)
— from Purine-rich foods, dairy and protein intake, and the risk of gout in men, 2004.
A more understandable translation of the above is this:
Continue reading



