When to use absolute vs relative effect measures

[f2harrell]

@VLysne

But the absolute effect of treatment depends on the baseline risk, and you won’t know the absolute benefit in a population unless you study that particular population specifically.

Most of the time there are no interactions between treatment and baseline covariates. When that is true, the relationship between baseline risk and absolute risk reduction due to treatment is simple math and does not require data. See for example this and this.