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Relative Numbers Needed to Treat With Different Therapies

David B. Miller, MD, FRCPC

Arch Intern Med. 1997;157(18):2045-2052.

Abstract
Secondar prevention of ischemic heart disease refers to the process of preventing further morbidity and reducing mortality rates in patients with clinical manifestations of the disease. Twenty-five large randomized, clinical trials addressing mortality rates and cardiovascular morbidity in patients with established ischemic heart disease are reviewed. Broadly defined, these were trials of aspirin and antiplatelet agents, anticoagulants, β-blockers, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, lowering of cholesterol levels, exercise rehabilitation, and diet or vitamins. In trials using warfarin sodium, timolol maleate, propranolol hydrochloride, captopril, ramipril, and simvastatin and 2 diet studies, statistically significant improvements in total mortality rates were seen. Most other studies showed nonsignificant reductions in total mortality rates, with statistically significant reductions in 1 or more measures of cardiovascular morbidity. The methods necessary for the reader to calculate the number (of patients) needed to treat for other studies are also reviewed. The uses and limitations of the number needed to treat as a method to compare studies of different interventions in similar populations are discussed.

Arch Intern Med. 1997;157:2045-2052

Author Affiliations
From the Departments of Medicine and Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Western Ontario, London. Dr Miller is now with the Department of Medicine, Greater Victoria Hospital Society, Victoria, British Columbia.

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