Q25 - A certain medication that is frequently prescribed...

[jake.rambeau]

I picked the correct answer D on this one, because it obviously addresses the issue well. However I put a huge question next to A, because it seems like a great answer as well. If there is a more effective medication that could explain why the people taking the less effective medication is 12 to 15% higher.

Of course this assumes that a number of people in the study are actually TAKING the new meds, but that does not seem like to large of an assumption to consider.

Is the problem with answer choice A this needed assumption? Or is there some other issue?

Thanks!

[sumukh09]

If there is a more effective medication that could explain why the people taking the less effective medication is 12 to 15% higher.

Just to be clear, the 12 to 15 percent higher refers to the cholesterol level of the person relative to that person's age group. A) wouldn't explain why someone taking the medication has a higher cholesterol level than the average for their age group. A medication may be more effective, but so what? If the more effective medication was given that still wouldn't resolve the issue that the people taking the medication have higher cholesterol levels than the average for their age group.

[jake.rambeau]

Just to be clear, the 12 to 15 percent higher refers to the cholesterol level of the person relative to that person's age group. A) wouldn't explain why someone taking the medication has a higher cholesterol level than the average for their age group. A medication may be more effective, but so what? If the more effective medication was given that still wouldn't resolve the issue that the people taking the medication have higher cholesterol levels than the average for their age group.

Thanks for the quick response. What I meant was if a bunch of people in the age group were taking the more effective medication, it would lower their cholesterol, and the average, more than the person in the study taking the less effective medication. So it would explain why the person taking the less effective medication had higher numbers then the average. No?

[sumukh09]

Just to be clear, the 12 to 15 percent higher refers to the cholesterol level of the person relative to that person's age group. A) wouldn't explain why someone taking the medication has a higher cholesterol level than the average for their age group. A medication may be more effective, but so what? If the more effective medication was given that still wouldn't resolve the issue that the people taking the medication have higher cholesterol levels than the average for their age group.

Thanks for the quick response. What I meant was if a bunch of people in the age group were taking the more effective medication, it would lower their cholesterol, and the average, more than the person in the study taking the less effective medication. So it would explain why the person taking the less effective medication had higher numbers then the average. No?

Ah, I see the confusion. Their cholesterol levels are actually higher before they take the medication. The discrepancy here is that an effective medication is taken by people that typically have higher cholesterol levels than the average for that age group. In other words, the medication is effective but people have have higher cholesterol levels. Why? Well, if the people taking the medication already have higher cholesterol levels then it doesn't matter how effective the medication is. Does that make sense?