Table 2. CLINICAL OUTCOME MEASURES OF INCISIONAL HERNIA ACROSS COMPARISON GROUPS

* Odds ratio with 95% confidence interval.

† Absolute risk reduction: the absolute arithmetic difference in event rates; control event rate minus experimental event rate—for our calculations, event of incisional hernias in absorbable group minus the event rate in the nonabsorbable group.

‡ Relative risk reduction: the proportional reduction in rates of adverse events between control event rate (CER) and experimental event rate (EER). It is calculated as CER−EER/ CER. ⁵¹

§ Number needed to treat: the number of patients who need to be treated to achieve one additional favorable outcome or the prevention of one adverse event; calculated as 1/ARR, rounded up to the next highest whole number. ⁵¹