Epidemiological studies, and the systematic reviews that synthesize them,  report outcomes as “risks.”  For example, the risk of dying from a harmful exposure, or the risk of getting a second heart attack after receiving drug treatment.  Risks of harmful exposures, such as air pollution, can seem very small compared to the risks of the beneficial effect from a drug.  But, these risks are often considered at the level of the individual person.  In this article, Lisa Bero, PhD and co-authors explain why population level risk should be reported when assessing the effects of exposures or interventions.  To protect and improve the health of the public, it is critical to understand that small risks applied across a large population can have a profound effect. .  Read article>>