Figure 4.

Attributable and avoidable burden. a = disease burden at T₀ attributable to prior exposure. The burden not attributable to risk factor of interest (light area) may be decreasing, constant, or increasing over time. The middle case is shown in the figure. b = disease burden at T₀ not attributable to the risk factor of interest (caused by other factors only). Dashed arrows represent the path of burden after a reduction at T₀. c = disease burden avoidable at T_x with a 50% exposure reduction at T₀. d = remaining disease burden at T_x after a 50% reduction in risk factor.