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 BBC considered whether this met the BBC standards for accuracy set out in the Editorial Guidelines.
Outcome
The ECU noted the 20% figure was mentioned by a guest and referred to the reduction in relative rather than absolute risk. 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. 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. 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