Quiz 7, Module Sars2
7. Based on what you now know about SARS, which is the most 'conservative' way of determining the case-fatality ratio? Should we calculate case-fatality assuming that those who are still ill will recover?
- A and C (in question 6) - assume all patients will recover
- B and D (in question 6) - exclude those with the unknown outcome from the denominator
Answer (a) —
incorrect:
a and c (in question 6) are not more conservative because calculating the case-fatality ratio assuming that all those who are still ill will recover inflates the denominator and produces an underestimate of the case-fatality ratio.
Answer (b) —
correct:
b and d (in question 6) are more conservative because calculating the case-fatality ratio using only those cases whose final outcome is known (died or recovered) before the outbreak is over, gives an overestimate.
