Complaint
During an item about the results of a medical trial involving the drug Semaglutide it was claimed that the risk reduction for the average patient  was 20%.  A listener complained this was misleading and the real figure was just 0.5% per annum. The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ considered whether this met the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ standards for accuracy set out in the Editorial Guidelines.    Â
Outcome
The ECU noted the 20% figure was mentioned by a guest and referred to the reduction in relative rather than absolute risk. Â Relative Risk Reduction (RRR) is an accepted method for interpreting the results of a randomised controlled trial, particularly when looking at the effectiveness of a medical treatment. Â It is used to indicate by how much a particular treatment reduced the risk of a bad outcome relative to the control group which did not have the treatment. Â In this case the trial looked at the effectiveness of the drug in reducing cardiovascular events in people with existing heart issues and so the relative risk was a valid measure. The ECU did not therefore believe it amounted to broadcasting misinformation on a health issue.
Not Upheld