Journal Club with Dr. Peter Attia | Effects of Light & Dark on Mental Health & Treatments for Cancer

Odds Ratios

Dr. Peter Attia explains the concept of odds ratios, emphasizing their significance in epidemiological studies. He highlights the difference between unadjusted and adjusted models, noting that the odds ratio represents the probability of an event occurring in one group compared to another 1. Andrew Huberman adds that odds ratios and hazard ratios are often confused but are fundamentally similar 1.

An odds ratio of two is 100%. An odds ratio of three is 200%. So the math is, take the number, subtract one, and that's the percent.

--- Peter Attia

This metric is crucial for understanding the impact of various factors on health outcomes, such as smoking and lung cancer risk 1.

   

Cancer Metrics

Peter discusses the application of clinical metrics in cancer research, focusing on response rates and survival metrics. He explains that a partial response (PR) requires at least a 50% reduction in tumor size, while a complete response (CR) means the tumor vanishes entirely 2. These metrics are vital for assessing treatment efficacy in dire conditions like metastatic melanoma 3.

The overall survival for metastatic melanoma is zero, with the exception of people who respond to interleukin two.

--- Peter Attia

Andrew Huberman notes that these metrics help gauge the effectiveness of new treatments, providing hope for patients with limited options 3.