Evidence quality
Association
A statistical relationship between an exposure and an outcome without proving cause.
What it means
Definition
Association. Association is often the correct cautious term for observational findings. It means the exposure and outcome occur together more or less often than expected, but it does not explain why.
What it can tell you
It can help clarify what sort of evidence or claim is being discussed.
What it cannot tell you
It cannot, by itself, prove that the headline is accurate or clinically important.
Headline trap
Why this matters in headlines
“Associated with lower risk” is usually safer than “prevents” unless causal evidence is strong.